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Senegal World Cup squad and strongest XI after Sadio Mane ruled out

  /  HMLandeliniV

Who has got the nod from head coach Aliou Cisse for 2022 World Cup?

Senegal qualified for their first-ever FIFA World Cup in 2002 and instantly made an impact, beating holders France on their way to the round of 16.

They then failed to make it to the World Cup again until 2018 and are now in line for their third appearance at the showpiece after ousting Mohamed Salah's Egypt in the qualifiers.

Can they repeat their heroics from 2002 and reach the knockout stages once more?

Senegal have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Qatar, Ecuador and dark horses Netherlands.

Not a straightforward group by any means, but head coach Aliou Cisse will hope that the AFCON Champions will ride on experience and squad depth to make it a memorable campaign in the desert country.

GOALKEEPERS

Edouard Mendy is the number one choice between the sticks for Senegal.

He has a special place in the hearts of Senegal fans after his heroics in the AFCON final and the World Cup qualifier against Egypt.

Rennes' Alfred Gomis, meanwhile, is a solid back-up choice and did well against Bolivia in September. Seny Dieng of QPR has also booked his tickets to get on the plane to Qatar after being used in Senegal's final friendly before the World Cup against Iran.

Seny Dieng - Queens Park Rangers

Alfred Gomis - Rennes

Edouard Mendy - Chelsea

DEFENDERS

Cisse sets his team up with a four-man backline and usually sticks to a set of trusted personnel.

Skipper Kalidou Koulibaly and Papa Abou Cisse are seemingly the two preferred centre-backs, but RB Leipzig's Abdou Diallo is another potential starter alongside Koulibaly.

Formose Mendy of Amiens is a versatile option who can play as a centre-back and also in the right-back position. This provides competition to natural right-back Youssouf Sabaly of Real Betis and keeps him on his toes, particularly with Bayern Munich's Bouna Sarr unavailable due to injury.

Whereas, Ismail Jakobs of Monaco and Fode Ballo-Toure of Milan are the regular left-back options.

Formose Mendy - Amiens

Kalidou Koulibaly - Chelsea

Papa Abou Cisse - Olympiacos

Abdou Diallo - RB Leipzig

Fode Ballo-Toure - AC Milan

Ismail Jakobs - AS Monaco

Youssouf Sabaly - Real Betis

MIDFIELDERS

Cisse is flexible enough to try out various options in midfield. Sometimes it is a three-man bank, on some occasions it can be a traditional four, and at times even five bodies are deployed at the centre of the park.

Idrissa Gueye is generally tasked with the role of dictating the tempo of the match.

To add steel, Marseille's Papa Gueye and Nottingham Forest's Cheikhou Kouyate can act as a double pivot.

Tottenham's Pape Matar Sarr is another potential option who adds composure and stability in midfield.

Papa Gueye - Marseille

Pape Matar Sarr - Tottenham Hotspur

Idrissa Gueye - Everton

Nampalys Mendy - Leicester City

Cheikhou Kouyate - Nottingham Forest

Pathe Ciss - Rayo Vallecano

Krepin Diatta - Monaco

Moustapha Name - Pafos

Loum Ndiaye - Reading

ATTACKERS

Senegal were dealt a major blow when star player Sadio Mane was ruled out of the World Cup due to injury after suffering a knee problem on club duty with Bayern.

That means they will be relying on other options up top instead, with Ismalia Sarr of Watford being an explosive option out wide who can tear up defences with his pace.

Meanwhile, Boulaye Dia of Salernitana is entrusted with the responsibility of being the target man upfront.

There are a few other options as well in Bamba Dieng and Nicolas Jackson who add depth to the squad.

Boulaye Dia - Salernitana

Ismalia Sarr - Watford

Bamba Dieng - Marseille

Iliman Ndiaye - Sheffield United

Nicolas Jackson - Villarreal

Famara Diedhiou - Alanyaspor

STRONGEST XI

Cisse is likely to set his side up in a 4-3-3 formation in Qatar.

Chelsea goalkeeper Mendy will start in goal, in front of a back four comprising of Sabaly, Koulibaly, Diallo, and Ballo-Toure.

In midfield, Idrissa Gueye, Pape Gueye, and Pape Matar Sarr should all start.

Dieng could potentially operate on the left flank, with Ismalia Sarr on the right and Dia as the centre forward.

Senegal XI (4-3-3): Mendy; Sabaly, Koulibaly, Diallo, Ballo-Toure; Idrissa Gueye, Pape Gueye, Matar Sarr; Dieng, Dia, Ismalia Sarr

Related: SenegalMane