Patrick Vieira has called up Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal) and Iliman Ndiaye (Manchester City) for Senegal’s double header against Sudan on 12 and 16 November. Sadio Mané misses out for the second window in a row.
Patrick Vieira, the Senegal head coach, has selected Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal) and Iliman Ndiaye (Manchester City) for the double header against Sudan on 12 and 16 November in the CAN 2027 qualifiers, Sport News Africa reports. Pape Matar Sarr (Juventus), Lamine Camara (Monaco) and Boulaye Dia (Rennes) are also among the call-ups.
The squad is already assembling: nine Lions reported to the Terrou-Bi hotel in Diamniadio on Monday, including Iliman Ndiaye, Nobel Mendy, Mory Diaw and Pape Demba Diop, according to Wiwsport.
Koulibaly back, Mané stays with family
Kalidou Koulibaly’s return is the main talking point of the squad. The Al-Hilal centre-back missed the September matches, MatchPreview reports. Iliman Ndiaye, for his part, is in the group, and Sport News Africa rates him as in form.
Up front, Sadio Mané’s absence will again have to be covered. The forward has chosen to stay with his family for a happy occasion, and so misses his second consecutive international window. “His wish was to stay close to his family, and I accepted that choice,” Patrick Vieira said, quoted by MatchPreview in a translation from English.
Idrissa Gana Gueye, 37, is also left out of the squad.
Ismaïla Sarr, an injury yet to be confirmed
Ismaïla Sarr’s situation could still change. He is reported to have suffered a recurrence of a groin problem, according to MatchPreview. If his withdrawal is confirmed, Vieira would lose another option in a department already without Mané.
Vieira has also already handed 12 new players their first senior call-ups since taking charge in September 2026. Among them is Massire Sylla, called up after Mamadou Sarr’s injury, Foot-Africa reports.
Four points, second place to defend
In Group J, Senegal sit second with 4 points, ahead of third-placed Sudan with 3 points, according to MatchPreview. The first match will be played in Dakar at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor on 12 November at 19:00 GMT, before the trip to Juba on 16 November at 14:00.
Juventus have confirmed Pape Matar Sarr’s call-up for the two matches, scheduled for 20:00 CET on 12 November and 14:00 on 16 November, according to Onefootball.
In its Lions form guide, Sport News Africa rates Nicolas Jackson, Boulaye Dia, Iliman Ndiaye, Lamine Camara and Ibrahim Mbaye as in form, and Moussa Niakhaté and Pape Matar Sarr as steady. This is that outlet’s assessment.