The Comoros and Senegal will meet for the first time in international football when they contest a friendly at Stade Velodrome on Sunday afternoon. Both sides arrive in Marseille after recent victories and will be looking to build momentum.
Senegal recovered from a difficult period with a 1-0 win over Ethiopia last Tuesday, Patrick Vieira’s first victory as manager. The former midfielder had begun his tenure with a 1-1 draw against Mozambique, giving him four points from two competitive matches.
Vieira, 50, took charge after Senegal’s dramatic 3-2 defeat by Belgium ended their hopes of reaching the World Cup last 16 and brought Pape Thiaw’s reign to a close, despite his Africa Cup of Nations success earlier in the year. Vieira had been without a club since leaving Genoa in November 2025.
Those results have produced a mixed response, and the friendly is unlikely to be treated casually despite Senegal sitting 90 places above the Comoros in the FIFA rankings. The Lions of Teranga won their first two preparation fixtures in 2026, but have since gone two friendlies without success, including a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia immediately before the World Cup.
Senegal’s attacking performances have been criticised as cautious, with supporters expecting greater efficiency against the Comoros.
The Comoros appointed Hubert Velud after Stefano Cusin completed a three-year spell in charge. Velud, 57, previously managed Togo, Sudan and Burkina Faso and has extensive experience of African football.
His first match brought a 3-1 defeat away to Cameroon, but the Cœlacanthes responded in Velud’s first home game by beating Namibia 1-0. Benjaloud Youssouf scored the decisive goal, securing the Comoros’ first competitive victory for 10 months. Their previous success had come in a penalty shoot-out against Yemen in the Arab Cup in November 2025.
That result ended a run of only two wins in 11 matches. The Comoros have produced notable upsets before, including a victory in Tunisia during the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign despite having only a 6.7% chance of winning before kick-off. After five matches without scoring, they have found the net in each of their past three games, scoring once in every match.
Recent form
Comoros in international friendlies: D-D-D-W-W-W Comoros in all competitions: N-L-L-W-L-W Senegal in international friendlies: L-W-W-W-L-D Senegal in all competitions: L-L-W-L-D-W
Right-back Benjaloud Youssouf, 32, has been involved in both Comoros goals during this international window. Yannick Pandor is expected to remain in goal after a strong display against Namibia.
Yehvann Diouf has become Senegal’s first choice since Edouard Mendy retired from international football, although Mory Diaw could start at Stade Velodrome. Aston Villa winger Ibrahim Mbaye scored his fifth goal in 17 appearances against Ethiopia, while record cap-holder Idrissa Gana Gueye could return to the starting line-up after earning his 138th cap as a substitute last week.
Probable teams
Comoros: Pandor – Youssouf, Omari, Kari, Abdallah – Bourhane, Mohamed – Ahmed, Youssef, Hadji – Aboubacar.
Senegal: Diaw – Diouf, Koulibaly, Sane, Sy – I. Gueye, P. Gueye – Sima, Sarr, Mbaye – Jackson.
Senegal’s greater individual quality makes them favourites, although their attacking output remains the main uncertainty. The prediction is a 3-0 Senegal victory after 90 minutes.