Senegal lost its title holder crown, but not its favorite status. In Ivory Coast, the accident occurred in the round of 16: after nine points in three group matches, the Lions of Teranga fell on penalties to the host country, future but miraculous winner of the group stage (1-1, 5-4 in the tabs).
Since then, Aliou Cissé, coach who led the country to its first African Nations Cup victory, has been replaced by Pape Thiaw, Sadio Mané has left Europe for Saudi Arabia, but the Senegalese have never lost an official match, outside the African Nations Championship, played with other players.
Senegal calendar
The list of selected players
Guardians : Édouard Mendy (Al Ahli/ARS), Mory Diaw (Le Havre), Yehvann Diouf (Nice)
Defenders : Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal/ARS), Moussa Niakhaté (Lyon), El Hadji Malick Diouf (West Ham/ANG), Krépin Diatta (AS Monaco), Mamadou Sarr (Strasbourg), Ismail Jakobs (Galatasaray/TUR), Antoine Mendy (Nice), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haïfa/ISR)
Midfielders : Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton/ANG), Lamine Camara (AS Monaco), Habib Diarra (Sinderland/ANG), the Pope of Gueye (Villarreal/ESP), Pope Matar Matar Matars (Tottenham/ANG), The Ciss (Royyo/ESP) Pat.
Attackers : Sadio Mane (Al-Nassr/ARS), Nicolas Jackson (Bayer Muyern Muyer/ALL), Ismaïla Sarr (Crystal Palace/ANG), the Boullaye Dia (Lazio Roman (Samsusspot/TUR), the Ndiaye (Evertton/TUR), the Ibrahie (Everton/TUR), Habrough (Sams. Cheikh Sabaly (Metz)
Player to watch: Iliman Ndiaye
Two Lions were selected by CAF among the ten contenders for the title of African Player of the Year: Pape Matar Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye. After a disappointing spell at Marseille, the second completely relaunched his career at Everton, where he is the most dangerous player alongside Jack Grealish.
The 25-year-old right winger (32 caps) could also become the detonator of his selection in Morocco. Author of four goals with the Toffees, the native of Rouen is one of the best dribblers in the Premier League. Ndiaye will necessarily be essential to fix the defenses and free up space for Mané, Nicolas Jackson and others.
