Senegal

Senegal are the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions, winning the title in 2021 and 2023, and the only African nation to have reached a FIFA World Cup semi-final, achieving that at Korea/Japan 2002.

The Lions of Teranga under Aliou Cisse build from an exceptional defensive foundation and a forward line led by Sadio Mane, one of the finest African players of his generation. Mane’s career arc, from humble origins in Bambali to Premier League and Champions League titles at Liverpool, has made him Senegal’s most influential figure on and off the pitch. His movement, pressing, and finishing in key matches are qualities the team’s system is built to amplify. Edouard Mendy, when fit, provides the goalkeeping quality Senegal previously lacked, completing a team that can genuinely compete in the knockout rounds of a major tournament.

Senegal’s 2002 World Cup run remains the benchmark for African football at the global stage. Their opening match, a 1-0 defeat of defending champions France with a Papa Bouba Diop goal, is among the World Cup’s most celebrated upsets. They reached the semi-finals before losing to Turkey 1-0 on a golden goal, then lost to the hosts South Korea in a third-place playoff. It was a tournament that showed African football’s ceiling and has fuelled the continent’s ambition ever since.

At Qatar 2022, Senegal reached the last sixteen before losing 3-0 to England, a result that understates how competitive the match was in its first hour.

Senegal operates on Greenwich Mean Time, UTC+0, with no daylight saving adjustment. A 20:00 kickoff in Dakar is 20:00 in London in winter and 21:00 during British Summer Time. Check Senegal time for your local conversion.