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Senegal national football team

The Senegal national football team is the men’s senior international football team of Senegal.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Senegal national football team is the men's senior international football team of Senegal. Nicknamed the Lions of Teranga, it is governed by the Senegalese Football Federation and competes in FIFA and CAF competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA World Cup.

History

Senegal's men's national team has become one of Africa's leading sides. A major milestone was qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, followed by continued appearances in major continental and global competitions.

Major tournament results

The team reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, its best World Cup finish, and later participated in the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. Search results also show Senegal's 2024 AFCON run ending in the round of 16.

Home venue and management

The team is based in Dakar and listed in the results as playing home matches at Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio. SofaScore names Pape Thiaw as coach in the provided data.

Recent fixtures

Recent match listings show Senegal playing friendlies and competitive fixtures in 2024 and 2025, and scheduled matches in 2026 across AFCON and World Cup contexts.

Key facts

  • Senegal qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup after defeating South Africa 2–0 on 10 November 2017.
  • At the 2018 World Cup, Senegal beat Poland 2–1 in its opening match.
  • BeSoccer lists Senegal’s 2024 Africa Cup of Nations results, including wins over Gambia, Cameroon and Guinea before a last-16 exit to Côte d’Ivoire on penalties.
  • SofaScore lists Senegal’s home venue as Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio.
  • The team is commonly known as the Lions of Teranga.
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Canadian context

Senegal’s 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule includes a match at BMO Field in Toronto, making the team directly relevant to Canadian football audiences.[10]

Frequently asked questions

What is the Senegal national football team?
It is Senegal's men's senior international football team, representing the country in FIFA and CAF competitions.
What is Senegal's nickname?
The team is commonly nicknamed Les Lions de la Téranga, or the Lions of Teranga.
What is Senegal's best World Cup result?
Senegal's best World Cup finish was the quarter-finals in 2002.
When did Senegal qualify for the 2018 World Cup?
Senegal qualified on 10 November 2017 after a 2–0 win over South Africa.
Where does Senegal play home matches?
The provided results list Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio as the home venue.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senegal_national_football_team
    Supports: 2018 World Cup qualification and opening-group-match result; general team history.
  2. BeSoccer — https://www.besoccer.com/team/matches/senegal
    Supports: Recent Senegal fixtures and 2024 AFCON results.
  3. ESPN — https://www.espn.com/soccer/team/fixtures/_/id/654/senegal
    Supports: 2026 schedule including Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA World Cup fixtures.
  4. FotMob — https://www.fotmob.com/teams/6395/fixtures/senegal
    Supports: Recent fixtures listing.
  5. SofaScore — https://www.sofascore.com/football/team/senegal/4739
    Supports: Coach, founded date, home venue, FIFA ranking, and squad information.
  6. SeatGeek — https://www.seatgeek.com/senegal-national-football-team-tickets
    Supports: World Cup participation history and 2026 Canada match location context.