Yahoo Sports reports that Previous World Cup appearances: 3Best performance: Quarterfinals (2002)First appearance: 2002 (South Korea and Japan)Top goal scorer: Papa Bouba Diop (3)Most appearances: Kalidou Koulibaly, Youssouf Sabaly, Ismaila Sarr (7)Player to watch: Sadio ManeFIFA world ranking: 14 In their first ever World Cup match in 2002, Senegal shocked the world by beating the defending champions France 1-0, and went on to top a tricky group that also included Denmark and Uruguay.
The Lions of Teranga followed up that upset by knocking out Sweden in the last 16 and narrowly fell to Turkiye 1-0 in the quarterfinals.
Nearly a quarter of a century on, Senegal arrive at their third consecutive World Cup as arguably – if not quite officially – the best side in Africa, and potential outsiders to lift the trophy.
Senegal were unbeaten in qualifying, and made a strong statement against England recently, becoming the first African side to beat the Three Lions winning 3-1 at Wembley last June.
Their recent AFCON final against Morocco may have been marred by farce after they temporarily left the pitch in protest at a penalty, but there’s no doubting their individual talent or strength as a unit.
Senegal have “big dreams” to “achieve great things”, coach Pape Thiaw said as he unveiled a 28-man squad earlier this month – which he will have to trim by two players before the tournament.