Senegal predicted lineup for AFCON 2023 (Africa Cup of Nations)

Published at :January 10, 2024 at 5:50 PM

Modified at :January 14, 2024 at 12:02 AM

The 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations is set to kick off in a few days in Côte d’Ivoire.

Senegal previously hosted the Africa Cup of Nations once in 1992. After being runners-up on two occasions, on the 6th of February 2022, Senegal claimed their first AFCON victory after a 4-2 win on penalties to AFCON 2021 finalist Egypt. The Teranga Lions will be ready to defend their crown and do it all again this time in Ivory Coast. No team has defended the AFCON trophy since Egypt won a third straight title in 2010, but Aliou Cissé’s team could be set for another deep run.

They will have to navigate Group C, which also includes Gambia, Cameroon and Guinea. Here look at Senegal predicted lineup for AFCON 2023 (Africa Cup of Nations 2023):

Formation: 4-3-3

GK – Édouard Mendy

Mendy has been described as a physically dominant goalkeeper who exerts a strong influence in the defensive third. Mendy is an aerially assertive goalkeeper, frequently coming off his line to claim crosses. He is also very vocal, often organizing his defenders’ positioning. Till now he made 33 appearances for his national team.

LB – Ismail Jakobs

A force to be reckoned with on the dribble, his sound touch and ball control give him a solid platform to inherit possession and drive upfield. So fast and well-balanced, he relishes surging upfield into vacant spaces before hoping to commit defenders or looking to outfox them with a smart change of speed or direction, a slick feint or a hard-to-read shoulder drop. Powerful and explosive, not only does he rapidly gain territory in transition sequences, but he also draws multiple markers to open passing lanes to find a free man ahead while disrupting the organisation of the opposition defence.

CB – Abdou Diallo

Diallo is aware of the threat behind him but remains unfazed and can sit on the edge of the six-yard box, stopping any cross. A key skill of Diallo is the pace he possesses. Strong central defender who is very intelligent. He can play a wider defensive role too or even be deployed in a defensive midfield role. On 17 March 2021, Diallo was called up to the Senegal national team for the first time. He played 23 times for Senegal till now.

CB – Kalidou Koulibaly

A large, aggressive, quick and physically strong yet elegant player, Koulibaly is recognised for his aerial prowess, anticipation, positioning, tackling, character, technique and passing ability as a defender. in early September 2015, Koulibaly changed federations and joined the Senegal national football team, despite the interest to call him for Les Bleus from Didier Deschamps. He played 75 matches for his country.

RB – Youssouf Sabaly

He has represented France at various youth levels and was a member of the victorious squad at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He made his debut for Senegal in a 2–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification win over South Africa on 10 November 2017. He will play a key role on the right side of the team in the tournament.

LCM – Cheikhou Kouyate

On 29 February 2012, Kouyaté made his debut for the Senegal senior team as a 56th-minute substitute for Mohamed Diamé in a goalless friendly draw away to South Africa. He scored his first international goal on 5 September in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, in a 2–0 win away to Namibia. Kouyaté was a member of Senegal’s squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He started the opening match against the Netherlands, where he sustained a hamstring injury that led to him playing no further part in the tournament.

CDM – Idrissa Gueye

An energetic midfielder, known for his ball-winning skills, as well as his ability to press opponents and intercept passes. Gueye made his international debut for Senegal on 11 November 2011 as a half-time substitute for Deme N’Diaye in a 4–1 friendly win away to neighbours Guinea. On 24 March 2023, Gueye played his 100th international match in a 5–1 win over Mozambique during the Africa Cup of Nations qualification, to be the first Senegalese to achieve this feat.

RCM – Krepin Diatta

On 23 March 2019, he made his national team debut in a 2–0 win against Madagascar in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Diatta missed Senegal’s successful 2021 Africa Cup of Nations due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Even though he is very young his role in this tournament will be very crucial.

LW – Sadio Mane

A versatile forward, Mané is a prolific goalscorer, whose main traits are his finishing, speed, technique, and trickery in possession, as well as his decision-making, tactical awareness, creativity, agility, balance, control, touch on the ball, and dribbling skills. He played a key role in Senegal’s AFCON 2021 win and in this tournament as well he has to be at his best.

RW – Ismaïla Sarr

Sarr is unusual in that he is a right-footed winger who plays on the right – but he also does far more than just run towards the byline and put a cross into the box. He manoeuvres himself intelligently to beat opponents and uses his huge stride and devastating pace to run diagonally towards the goal. Sarr’s main threat comes on the counter because he can carry the ball at pace and glances up between touches to build up a picture of what is around him. Opponents have to be very alert when facing him.

ST – Habib Diallo

Diallo was part of Senegal’s squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations; the Lions of Teranga went on to win the tournament for the first time in their history. Till now he made 18 appearances for his national team. He will have a big responsibility to lead the attack up front and fans will expect him to deliver.

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