Senegal face Comoros in a friendly at Marseille’s Stade Velodrome on Sunday, 4 October, with Patrick Vieira aiming to use the match to continue shaping his side after an unbeaten start as national team manager.
Kick-off is scheduled for 15:00 French time, 13:00 in Senegal and 16:00 in Comoros. The match will be broadcast in Senegal by RTS 1.
The fixture comes after Senegal’s opening two competitive matches under Vieira, a 1-1 draw away to Mozambique followed by a narrow 1-0 victory over Ethiopia. Those results represented a respectable beginning for the Frenchman, although the performances have prompted greater concern in Senegal, particularly after a difficult second half in Bahir Dar.
Vieira has already switched between a back four and a system using three central defenders. The meeting with Comoros gives him another opportunity to assess different options and broaden his rotation before the next international window.
The biggest changes could come in attack. Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were unavailable for the first two World Cup qualifying matches against Mozambique and Ethiopia after being suspended by CAF following incidents during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
Because Sunday’s fixture is not part of a CAF competition, both forwards are eligible and could make their first appearances for Senegal since Vieira’s appointment.
The manager also has further options to examine. Kalidou Koulibaly did not play a minute in either of the opening two matches, while several other members of the squad were also unused, including Mamadou Sarr, Nobel Mendy, Rassoul Ndiaye and Mamadou Diakhon.
However, Moussa Niakhate will miss the game. The Lyon defender started and captained Senegal against both Mozambique and Ethiopia, but underwent an MRI scan in Marseille before Vieira released him to return to his club for treatment.
Although Vieira remains unbeaten since taking charge, he is expected to provide clearer evidence of the playing identity he wants Senegal to develop. The friendly offers space for further tactical trials, but the team’s progress will also be judged on the quality of its performance.
Comoros arrive with a reshaped squad under manager Hubert Velud. The Coelacantes began their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 3-1 defeat by Cameroon before responding with a 1-0 victory over Namibia.
The match at Stade Velodrome is therefore a chance for both managers to assess their squads: Vieira as he continues to establish his Senegal team, and Velud with a renewed Comoros side following the opening two results of their qualifying campaign.