Senegal left-back Ismail Jakobs, 27, has told head coach Patrick Vieira he wants to end his international career, according to QQ News. Sadio Mané, Senegal’s captain, is absent for a happy family event.
Senegal will have to do without Ismail Jakobs. According to Chinese outlet QQ News, the 27-year-old left-back has told head coach Patrick Vieira of his intention to end his international career, just days after being called up for the two AFCON 2027 qualifying matches against Sudan on 12 and 16 November.
The decision comes as the Senegal squad for this window already had one absentee: captain Sadio Mané, who has stayed with his family for what the head coach described as a “happy event”. Two absences for Vieira to handle.
A decision accepted with bitterness
According to the coach’s remarks reported by QQ News, Jakobs had initially taken his call-up well before announcing his decision. “He received the call-up, then a few days later he called me to say he wanted to end his international career. I can say I accepted it with a little bitterness, because I think he is at the peak of his career,” said Patrick Vieira.
The head coach has therefore accepted the choice, not without regret: he believes Jakobs, at 27, is at the peak of his career. For now, these remarks are reported only by QQ News, so the left-back’s decision rests on a single source.
Mané, an absence already confirmed
Sadio Mané’s absence had already been mentioned by the press. According to L’Équipe, relayed by Africa Top Sports, the Senegal captain will indeed miss the November window. Vieira explained that the Al-Nassr forward had received his call-up and that the two men had spoken by phone.
“Mané did receive his call-up. I spoke to him on the phone. He wants to stay with his family because he is expecting a happy event. I accepted that choice,” the head coach said, as quoted by QQ News. A family withdrawal that adds to Jakobs’s decision.
Two matches against Sudan
The Lions face Sudan twice, on 12 and 16 November 2026, in the AFCON 2027 qualifiers. Without Mané or Jakobs, Patrick Vieira will have to reshuffle his squad for the two matches.