CONTENDERS OR CHAMPIONS: SENEGAL AIMS FOR SECOND AFCON TITLE IN MOROCCO
Undefeated in qualification, Senegal heads to AFCON 2025 as a strong contender. Coach Pape Thiaw balances veteran leadership with exciting young talent for a second title.
Senegal heads to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. They have high expectations but also confidence from playing well on the continent's biggest stage.
This is their 18th time at the tournament. After winning in 2021, they have a chance to win a second title in just three tries. That win changed how the nation views its soccer team. Now, the Teranga Lions see AFCON as a place where they are contenders and champions who want to stay on top.
To get to Morocco, they showed they can be in charge and consistent. Senegal went undefeated in a group with Burkina Faso, Burundi, and Malawi. These teams can cause trouble, but they couldn't stop the Lions from controlling things or staying strong.
They also went undefeated in their 2026 World Cup qualifiers, finishing ahead of a strong DR Congo team. This shows that Senegal doesn't just win; they control the game with structure, skill, and flashes of individual talent.
Head coach Pape Thiaw took over after Aliou Cissé, a national icon, had a long run. Thiaw keeps Senegal’s soccer identity of discipline, strength, and smart tactics. He also brings new ideas and gives young players a chance. He mixes practical choices with expressive attacking play, so Senegal stays strong on defence but can also attack in ways that are hard to predict.
This is made possible by amazing squad depth. The celebrated “Golden Generation” is still key to the team. Sadio Mané can change games with his speed and skill. Edouard Mendy brings calm and confidence as a goalie. Kalidou Koulibaly leads the defence with authority. Idrissa Gueye balances the midfield with experience and hard work. These players have proven themselves in AFCON, the World Cup, and top European leagues.
They are joined by rising stars who give Senegal fresh energy and choices. Nicolas Jackson's sharp movement and finishing improve the attack. Ibrahim Mbaye is athletic and can play many positions. Lamine Camara, one of Africa’s most exciting young midfielders, adds creativity. Together, experienced leaders and young talent give the Lions depth, drive, and many styles of play.
As AFCON 2025 gets closer, Senegal is a favourite because of their momentum, balance, and belief in themselves. They can control games and create winning plays. The Teranga Lions will again be watched closely as they try to win the title.
THOMAS TUCHEL NAMES EXPANDED ENGLAND SQUAD FEATURING FOUR SURPRISE NEW INCLUSIONS
Thomas Tuchel hands maiden England call-ups to James Garner and Jason Steele while omitting Trent Alexander-Arnold.
James Garner from Everton and Brighton’s goalkeeper Jason Steele have earned their first call-ups to the England squad. Alongside them, AC Milan’s defender Fikayo Tomori and Tottenham’s forward Dominic Solanke have also been included. However, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luke Shaw did not make the cut this time.
Jude Bellingham, despite being sidelined since early February due to a hamstring injury, is still part of the squad. Experienced centre-back Harry Maguire, now 33, has the chance to add to his 64 caps, while 20-year-old Kobbie Mainoo, who started in the Euro 2024 final, is also selected. Both last represented England in September 2024 but have been rewarded for Manchester United’s recent good form, which has lifted them to third place in the Premier League.
Luke Shaw, pushing for inclusion, has been overlooked once again. Instead, Tuchel has called up Newcastle’s Lewis Hall, marking his first call-up since Tuchel took over.
This squad is larger than usual, with players arriving in two phases during the international window. Tuchel explained on the Football Association’s website that the first group includes players who haven’t played much recently, aiming to broaden competition for spots in the upcoming US tour. Then, from Friday to Saturday, another group will join, including some who’ve had a short rest, to mix things up for the match against Japan.
England will face Uruguay at Wembley on March 27, followed by a home game against Japan on March 31. Looking ahead, the World Cup kicks off on June 11 in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with England considered among the contenders.
Here’s the full squad breakdown:
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City), Aaron Ramsdale (Newcastle), Jason Steele (Brighton)
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Lewis Hall (Newcastle), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan)
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), James Garner (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham)
WHY CAF STRIPPED SENEGAL OF THEIR AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS TITLE
Following a final walk-off, Senegal has lost its AFCON trophy in the boardroom, prompting an appeal to CAS by the FSF.
Moussa Niakhate finally spoke out after the Confederation of African Football’s shocking decision to take Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations trophy away. After that wild walk-off in the final against Morocco, CAF backed an appeal and handed the host nation a 3-0 win by default. Senegalese players were furious; who wouldn’t be?
The boardroom decision completely flipped African football on its head. Two months after the final, the CAF Appeal Board tossed out Senegal’s victory and gave Morocco the win. It all started deep into stoppage time when VAR gave Morocco a penalty. Pape Thiaw, Senegal’s manager, lost it and told his players to leave the field. Eventually, they came back and finished the match. Still, officials said the walk-off broke tournament rules, so they took the title away. Brutal.
Niakhate, the 30-year-old defender who was key in Senegal’s backline, got asked about it before Lyon’s Europa League match with Celta. He’d already posted a photo with his medal and the trophy right after the ruling. He made it clear: nothing a boardroom says can erase what happened on the pitch. He said, “Out of respect for the club and with the crucial match in mind, I don’t want to go into too much detail. You saw my reaction on social media; it’s the same today. What I can say is that nothing has changed for me compared to what we went through in January. I’ll have time to talk about it again in due course; for now, I’m going to stay focused on Lyon.”
That final in Rabat was pure chaos, even before Senegal won 1-0 on the field. Most players followed Thiaw down the tunnel, but Sadio Mane stayed, urging his teammates to come back. Brahim Diaz took the penalty but tried a Panenka, and Edouard Mendy caught it easily. The game went to extra time, Papa Gueye scored, and Senegal thought they were champions again. It didn't matter; the walk-off cost them everything. The committee called it a 3-0 forfeit.
It’s harsh for a team that believed they’d gone back-to-back. Niakhate, who started six out of seven games, is now focusing on Lyon’s European campaign. Still, that boardroom drama isn’t going away, not with the international break coming up. Senegal’s already planning to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
