On June 16, Senegal will enter the 2026 World Cup (from June 11 to July 19) against the Blues of Didier Deschamps. In the meantime, the Teranga Lions are continuing their preparation in the United States, where they arrived last Wednesday.
This Sunday, Sadio Mané and his partners played their penultimate preparation meeting before the start of the World Cup. Opposing the United States in Charlotte, the Senegalese lost at the end of a lively match (2-3). And before challenging Saudi Arabia in a friendly, on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, Pape Thiaw will have to make an important choice.
For these two preparation matches scheduled on the sidelines of the World Cup, the Senegalese coach has called up 28 players, while the list for the tournament must contain a maximum of 26 names. Pape Thiaw will therefore have to part with two elements. And he has until Monday to send his final list to FIFA.
A central defender and a right back ruled out?
It remains to be known the identity of the two players who will not be retained by Pape Thiaw. According to Afrik-Foot, Moustapha Mbow could be the first victim. Preferred over Malang Sarr or Nobel Mendy in the list, the young Paris FC defender experienced a first in the jersey of his very complicated selection against the United States. He was notably involved in the goal of the Monegasque Folarin Balogun.
Besides Moustapha Mbow, who seems well on his way to packing his bags, a right back could be sacrificed. It should be between Ilay Camara and Antoine Mendy. Response expected in the coming hours.
