2026 World Cup | Which Senegal players could pose a threat to France? | OneFootball

France face Senegal in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener on Tuesday night, a repeat of the pair’s opening fixture at the 2022 World Cup. Which players should Les Bleus be worrying about heading into the game at the MetLife?

Star player

While Sadio Mané’s explosive pace from his years at Liverpool has naturally diminished, his tactical intelligence and his aura remain unmatched. He still leads from the front, now in a more central role, and is the emotional barometer of the team. For the 34-year-old, this World Cup represents a ‘last dance’: his final opportunity to lead an African nation deep into the tournament. A Champions League winner with Liverpool, the 34-year-old has been with Al-Nassr since 2023. 

Unsung hero

While the main focus this summer is understandably on big names such as Sadio Mané and Kalidou Koulibaly, it is Moussa Niakhaté who will be key to Senegal’s team structure. Since his first cap in 2022, the former Nottingham Forest centre-back has become the brains of the backline thanks to his excellent reading of the game. Capable of covering for his marauding full-backs and getting out of tight spots when in possession, he brings a serenity that Pape Thiaw cannot be without. As the coaching staff often point out, Niakhaté does not need the armband to be a leader: he is the dependable one at the back who allows the attacking talent to express themselves freely.

This is a piece from Omar Kane for Taggat as part of the Guardian Sports Network

GFFN | Luke Entwistle