Vieira drops Mané and Gueye, calls up four debutants for Senegal

Patrick Vieira has announced his Senegal selection for the double fixture against Sudan, scheduled for November 12 and 16 as part of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The French coach surprised by leaving out two major squad pillars.

The most notable absence is that of Sadio Mané. The Al-Nassr forward’s return was expected after he missed the previous gathering, but Vieira ultimately decided not to call him up. The former Liverpool player has also chosen to remain with his family pending a happy family event.

Another significant absence: Idrissa Gueye. The Everton midfielder, a historic cornerstone of the Lions of Teranga, does not feature in the squad. Unlike Mané, his absence stems from a purely sporting decision by the coach, who intends to reshuffle his ranks.

Vieira has instead opened the door to four new faces: Pathé Mboup, Pape Demba Diop, Clayton Diandy and Paul Mendy all earn their first senior caps. Krépin Diatta and Dion Lopy, absent from the previous gathering, make their return to the squad.

Senegal approaches these two matches with four points on the board after two games, the result of a draw against Mozambique (1-1) and a narrow victory over Ethiopia (1-0), sealed by Ibrahim Mbaye.