Patrick Vieira will begin his Senegal tenure with three of the team’s most established attacking players unavailable for the opening two matches of his reign.
Sadio Mane has been left out of the squad for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers against Mozambique and Ethiopia because of a physical issue. Ismaila Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye will also miss both games after being suspended by the CAF for their conduct towards the referee during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
The pair could return for the friendly against Comoros on 4 October, which concludes the international gathering. Vieira must therefore find an alternative attacking formula for the competitive fixtures, with his first squad already featuring eight newcomers and several significant absences.
Nicolas Jackson appears the leading option to start through the middle. The Aston Villa forward has scored in consecutive matches, finding the net against Bruges in the Champions League before scoring in the Premier League away to Tottenham.
That run of form comes at an important time for Jackson, who is still seeking to establish himself fully at international level. His pace, movement and ability to run in behind could suit a Senegal side expected to take the initiative against Mozambique and Ethiopia.
However, there will be no Sarr or Ndiaye alongside him in those matches. Their absence creates an opportunity for a younger group of forwards, led by Ibrahim Mbaye and Assane Diao. Abdallah Sima offers Vieira a different option, with greater physical strength and a stronger presence in the penalty area.
Boulaye Dia, who has revived his form at Rennes, could challenge Jackson for the central role or give Vieira the option of deploying two strikers. Issa Soumare, Mamadou Diakhon and Pape Moussa Fall complete an attack that has been significantly refreshed and could all receive greater responsibility.
The selection also reflects Vieira’s stated intention to bring more intensity to Senegal’s play without completely discarding the team’s existing structure.
Familiar options could return against Comoros
Sarr and Ndiaye are expected to come back into contention for the Comoros friendly once their suspensions have been served.
Sarr remains one of Senegal’s most experienced attacking players and provides an important outlet by stretching opposing defences. Ndiaye, meanwhile, has moved to another level since joining Manchester City. His creativity and ability to operate either wide or centrally could allow him to take on some of the duties usually handled by Mane.
The three matches will give Vieira the chance to assess two distinct versions of his attack: an unfamiliar, younger unit for the qualifiers, followed by a return to more familiar combinations against Comoros.
Replacing Mane, Sarr and Ndiaye at the same time will be a considerable challenge. Their collective absence also gives Senegal an early opportunity to discover which of the country’s emerging forwards is ready to assume a larger role under the 1998 world champion.