Patrick Vieira named Senegal head coach, omits Sadio Mane from first squad

Patrick Vieira has been officially unveiled as the new head coach of Senegal in Dakar, committing to a four-year cycle aimed at building toward 2030. The 50-year-old manager, who was born in Dakar, described the appointment as a deeply personal homecoming rather than just another step in his career.

Senegalese Football Federation president Abdoulaye Fall stated that the appointment was an absolute necessity for the national team. Addressing the media, Vieira emphasized that his decision to take the role was driven by emotion and a desire to meet the nation's high expectations.

I was born here in Dakar. My parents were born in Dakar. My whole family, my history is here in Dakar. And from there, taking this national team is not a new step in my career, it is a homecoming. Patrick Vieira

The headline from his first 29-man squad was the omission of star forward Sadio Mane. Vieira clarified that the Al-Nassr player is sidelined with a minor physical setback but will return for the next camp. The squad also marks a transition in goal, following Edouard Mendy's international retirement, with two debutants called up to the position.

Vieira has included seven new faces in total, including Monaco's Sadibou Sane and Metz's Pape Moussa Fall. "The important thing is not to start from scratch," the manager explained. "I'm not going to tear everything down, but to preserve what has been achieved and begin a four-year cycle." The Lions are set to begin their 2027 AFCON qualification campaign against Mozambique on September 25.