Patrick Vieira to lead Senegal at home for the first time on November 12

Patrick Vieira will officially take the reins of Senegal during the November international window, with a first home match scheduled for November 12 against Sudan at Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor in Dakar (40,000 capacity).

Successor to Pape Thiaw, the 1998 World Cup winner with France is returning to his native country in a particular context: Senegal is still awaiting the verdict of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which must rule on the awarding of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title. The CAF awarded the trophy to Morocco after stripping the Lions of the Teranga, who believed they had won on the pitch.

Senegal had not played at home since March 31, in a friendly against Gambia. The team then traveled to the United States to prepare for the World Cup from late May onwards.

On the sporting front, the Lions of the Teranga began their qualifying campaign for the next Africa Cup of Nations with a draw in Mozambique (1-1, goal by Nicolas Jackson, September 25 in Maputo), before winning in Ethiopia four days later (0-1, goal by Ibrahim Mbaye). Ranked 18th in the FIFA rankings, Senegal can no longer afford to drop points along the way.

After hosting Sudan on November 12, the Senegalese will travel to face the same team on November 15. Qualification will be decided in March, with two matches against Mozambique and Ethiopia. The top two in each group will secure their place in the continental final phase.

The absence of Sadio Mané and Edouard Mendy, both withdrawn from the squad, as well as the captaincy role assumed by Kalidou Koulibaly, mark a new era for a team that remains one of the most ambitious on the continent.