Senegal’s Ultimate Dream Team: Who would make the Teranga Lions’ all-time World Cup squad?

Goalkeeper: Edouard MendySenegal’s greatest stopper, Mendy was between the sticks—and made some critical saves—as the Teranga Lions won the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time earlier this year.He was also the first black African goalkeeper to play in the Champions League, and the first to conquer the continent when Chelsea beat Manchester City in the 2021 final.Mendy, who will represent Senegal in Qatar, was the first African goalkeeper to win Uefa’s Best Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Goalkeeper: Tony SylvaThe first of several members of the 2002 generation to make this squad, Sylva also enjoyed a fine club career in France, featuring for the likes of LOSC Lille and AS Monaco.He was on the bench in the 2004 Champions League final—when Monaco were defeated by FC Porto—and was also a French champion with the Club of the Principality.The veteran stopper amassed 83 caps for the national side.

Goalkeeper: Cheikh SeckTaking the third-placed keeper spot in this dream team, Seck was in goal for Senegal at four Afcon tournaments and also played in Tunisia.Caf named him among the continent’s 200 footballing legends in 2006.

Right-back: Ferdinand ColyOne of the key figures in Senegal’s 2002 World Cup team, Coly secured a move from Racing Club de Lens to Birmingham City on the back of the tournament.

Left-back: Ibrahim Ba EusebioRepresented Le Havre in the late 70s and early 80s, having made his name with Diaraf in his homeland, Ibra was also a captain of the national side.He was a technical and quick left-sider, nicknamed ‘Eusebio’ in his homeland due to similarities in playing style with the Portugal legend.His son—Ibrahim Ba—featured for France, AC Milan and Olympique de Marseille.

Defender: Omar DafDaf would be a versatile addition to this dream squad, capable of playing across the backline—including in his preferred right-back role.He spent the best part of a decade with Sedan, and also represented Brest and Sochaux in France, although the highlight of his career was his role in Senegal’s triumphant 2002 World Cup campaign.The 45-year-old is currently head coach of Ligue 2 Dijon.

Centre-back: Kalidou KoulibalyA sure-fire starter in this Senegal team—even if he can’t currently make Chelsea’s starting XI—Koulibaly improved dramatically during his time at Napoli to the point where he’s considered among the finest centre-backs in the game.He was a pivotal figure for Senegal as they won their first ever Nations Cup title.

Centre-back: Lamine DiattaTowering centre-back who spent a decade in French football—on the books of the likes of Marseille, Lyon and Stade Rennais—before featuring for Besiktas and Newcastle United among others.Injuries affected his progress, but he was twice part of Ligue 1-winning OL sides, and was also a member of Senegal’s Golden Generation in 2002.

Centre-back: Domingo Mendy Legendary captain of the post-Independence team of the 60s, Mendy was also captain of local side ASC Jeanne d’Arc.He was part of the side that won the first ever Senegal Premier League, and captained the national team to their success at the Jeux de l’Amite in 1963.Nicknamed ‘Do’, he was a disciplined, courageous and committed skipper.

Centre-back: Roger Mendy Commanding centre-back who reached the Cup Winner’s Cup Final with AS Monaco in 1992, the same year in which he featured in the Nations Cup for Senegal.The defender also made the Afcon Team of the Tournament in Egypt four years beforehand.

Defender: Raoul Diagne Diagne never played for Senegal at international level, instead representing France and even representing Les Bleus at the 1938 World Cup.However, as Senegal weren’t an independent nation at this time, we still consider him eligible for our Teranga Lions Dream Team.Born in French Guiana to former mayor of Dakar Blaise Diagne, Diagne excelled as an elegant centre-back or an adventurous right-back.The Black Spider was a French champion with Racing Club de Paris in 1936, and also won three French Cups with the same club.

Midfielder: Papa Bouba Diop Scorer of the most famous goal in Senegalese history, when he scrambled home against France in 2002 to defeat the reigning champions and pull off the biggest shock in World Cup history.The defensive midfielder excelled for the likes of Portsmouth and Fulham in England, winning the FA Cup with the former.He died prematurely in 2020 after being diagnosed with ALS.

Midfielder: Oumar Sene Well-rounded midfielder who could also deputise as a striker, Sene moved to France after excelling in his homeland with US Goree.After impressing with Laval, he would go on to sign for Paris Saint-Germain, eventually spending seven years at the club and even captaining the domestic heavyweights for half a decade.Known for his competitiveness, he was influential as PSG won their first ever league title in 1986, becoming one of the early legends of the club.

Midfielder: Salif Diao Diao makes the cut here largely due to his contributions to the Lions’ cause at the 2002 World Cup, where he scored one of the goals of the tournament—against Denmark—and looked like an absolute world-beater.He was a French champion with AS Monaco in 2000, although his career unravelled after a move to Liverpool.

Midfielder: Aliou Cisse. The current head coach of the national side, Cisse was Senegal skipper when they reached the World Cup quarters in 2002.He represented the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, LOSC Lille, Montpellier, Sedan and Nimes in his homeland, while also featuring for Portsmouth and Birmingham City in the Premier League.

Midfielder: Idrissa Gana Gueye. One of the stars of this current Senegal generation, Gana has been the Teranga Lions’ lynchpin for a decade and played a key role as the won the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.He was a double winner with LOSC Lille, established himself as one of the finest defensive midfielders in the Premier League, and subsequently moved on to Paris Saint-Germain where he was twice a French champion.Despite injury fears, Gueye should participate at the 2022 World Cup with Senegal.

Midfielder: Khalilou Fadiga. Marvelous play maker who played a key role during the 2002 World Cup, when his astute movement and sharp passing were pivotal in unsettling France in the Lions’ opening victory.He also represented the likes of PSG, Auxerre and Internazionale, although heart problems affected his ability to establish himself with the latter club.

Forward: El-Hadji Diouf. The architect of Senegal’s triumphant victory over France, Diouf appeared to have the world at his feet in the summer of 2002, when his lightning speed and fancy footwork tormented Marcel Desailly and Frank Leboeuf.A move to Liverpool didn’t quite work out, and while Diouf did win two African Footballer of the Year awards, the ’02 World Cup was a premature peak.Nonetheless, he did carve out a successful and lengthy career in the United Kingdom with Rangers, Bolton Wanderers, Sunderland and Leeds United among others.

Forward: Yatma Diop. A pioneer for Senegalese players, Diop was among the first from West Africa to play in Europe after signing for Annecy in 1963.He also represented Amiens after a period back in his homeland with Diaraf, and was part of the Senegal side that qualified for the Nations Cup in 1968.

Forward: Sadio Mane. Senegal’s greatest ever player, Mane became a global superstar since signing for Liverpool, winning the Champions League and inspiring the Reds to end their three-decade wait for the Premier League title.The attacker also clinched the Golden Boot, starring in tandem with Mohamed Salah, before departing for Bayern Munich—and another glittering chapter—this summer.He scored the decisive penalty as Senegal defeated Salah’s Egypt in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, subsequently being named Player of the Tournament.

Forward: Boubacar Sarr. Senegal international through the 70s and 80s, Sarr represented both Olympique de Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain, managing to bridge the gap between France’s two big rivals and leaving an impression at both clubs.He won three French Cups across his time with both giants, and enjoyed an immense scoring record in French football.

Forward: Jules Bocande. The third African player to win the Ligue 1 Golden Boot, Bocande followed in the footsteps of Sekou Toure and Ahmed Oudjani by top scoring in the French top tier.The forward scored 23 goals for FC Metz during the 1985-86 season, and promptly secured a move to Paris Saint-Germain.Bocande represented Senegal at three Afcon tournaments, and was named by Caf among the greatest players in African football history.He died in tragic circumstances at 53.

Forward: Souleyman Sane. The son of Senegalese diplomats, Sane proved to be a goal machine at SC Freiburg where his pace terrorised defenders in the second tier.He was top scorer in 1988, and subsequently went on to play for the likes of FC Nurnberg and SG Wattenscheid.The father of Bayern Munich star Leroy Sane, Sane senior also represented Senegal at two Afcons.