The Senegal national team has released their squad list for the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations which includes Sadio Mane of Liverpool, and Edouard Mendy of Chelsea.
Napoli defender, Kalidou Koulibaly who has been injured for over a month is also included in the star-studded squad.
Senegal are going to the prestigious African tournament which will hold in Cameroon from January 9 as the favorite because of how well loaded the country’s squad is.
Senegal are yet to win the tournament but came very close to winning it in the last edition held in Egypt in 2019. They got to the final of the edition but Algeria ended their dream of winning the title.
As it stands, Senegal are going to Cameroon in January as the highest-ranked Africa country in FIFA national team ranking released on December 23. The country is currently ranked 20th in the world.
While in the ranking for Africa, Senegal are number one which means that they are a team to beat in the forthcoming AFCON.
The good news is that all their superstars are available for the tournament. The biggest plus for the team is that their goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy, is in the hottest form in his football career.
Recall that that goalkeeper who joined Chelsea from Rennes in 2020, helped the Premier League club to win the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Super Cup last season.
His performance in the tournament won him the best goalkeeper in last season’s UEFA Champions League campaign and also won him the best player in Senegal.
Edouard Mendy’s absence at Chelsea is a big concern for most fans especially those who don’t trust the ability of Kepa Arrizabalaga. But the club’s coach Thomas Tuchel would have no choice but to rely on Kepa until Mendy returns to the club.
As for Liverpool, they might not miss Sadio Mane as much as Chelsea might miss Mendy but the fact that coach Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool will be without Mohamed Salah of Egypt will affect the efficiency of the team for at least a month.
Below is Senegal Full Squad for AFCON including Edouard Mendy
Goalkeepers: Seny Dieng (Queens Park Rangers), Alfred Gomis (Stade Rennes), Edouard Mendy (Chelsea)
Defenders: Fode Ballo-Toure (AC Milan), Saliou Ciss (Nancy), Pape Abou Cisse (Olympiakos), Abdou Diallo (Paris Saint-Germain), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Cheikhou Kouyate (Crystal Palace), Ibrahima Mbaye (Bologna), Bouna Sarr (Bayern Munich), Abdoulaye Seck (Antwerp)
Midfielders: Idrissa Gana Gueye (Paris Saint-Germain), Pape Gueye (Olympique Marseille), Joseph Lopy (Socahux), Mamadou Loum (Deportivo Alaves), Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City), Moustapha Name (Paris FC), Pape Matar Sarr (Metz)
Forwards: Keita Balde (Cagliari), Boulaye Dia (Villarreal), Famara Diedhiou (Alanayspor), Habib Diallo (Racing Strasbourg), Bamba Dieng (Olympique Marseille), Sadio Mane (Liverpool), Ismaila Sarr (Watford), Mame Baba Thiam (Kayserispor).
🇸🇳 midfield mastermind 🧠
— CAF (@CAF_Online) December 24, 2021
Will @IGanaGueye be Senegal's key to #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 dominance? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/vhB2GJCJeS
