Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson Included as Senegal Name Strong Squad to Face Harambee Stars in Turkey

The Senegal national football team have named a strong, entirely foreign-based squad ahead of their international friendly against the Harambee Stars on 18 November 2025 in Antalya, Turkey, as confirmed by head coach Pape Thiaw. 

Leading the contingent is national icon Sadio Mané, now with Al-Nassr, who remains one of Africa’s most celebrated footballers. 

His inclusion underscores Senegal’s intent to use the friendly both as preparation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and to assert their status on the continent. 

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Senegal’s roster boasts considerable depth across all departments. In defence, veteran centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal) and Lyon’s Moussa Niakhaté anchor the back-line. 

In midfield, the Premier League-experienced duo Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton) and Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham) bring quality, while attack features Nicolas Jackson (on loan at Bayern Munich) and Boulaye Dia (Lazio).

Senegal have also infused youth into the squad. Seventeen-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye (PSG) and twenty-year-old Mamadou Sarr (Strasbourg) have earned their first senior call-ups after pledging allegiance to Senegal over France. Thiaw emphasised the “choice of the heart” behind Mbaye’s decision. 

This match marks the first meeting between the two nations in six years and arrives as Senegal finalise preparations for the AFCON tournament. 

Kenya meanwhile treat the encounter as a valuable benchmark for their own developmental trajectory.

While Senegal start as clear favourites, Kenya’s youthful squad—bolstered by emerging players such as Aldrine Kibet—will view the match as a chance to test themselves against elite opposition. 

The Stars’ camp will be using the friendly to foster cohesion, sharpen tactics and build confidence ahead of future qualifiers.

Goalkeepers: Édouard Mendy – Al-Ahli SFC (Saudi Arabia)Mory Diaw – Le Havre AC (France)Yehvann Diouf – OGC Nice (France)

Defenders: Kalidou Koulibaly – Al-Hilal SFC (Saudi Arabia)Abdoulaye Seck – Maccabi Haifa (Israel)Antoine Mendy – OGC Nice (France)Moussa Niakhaté – Olympique Lyonnais (France)Ismaïl Jakobs – Galatasaray (Turkey)El Hadji Malick Diouf – West Ham United (England)Mamadou Sarr – RC Strasbourg (on loan from Chelsea)Ilay Camara – RSC Anderlecht (Belgium)

Midfielders: Idrissa Gana Gueye – Everton FC (England)Pape Gueye – Villarreal CF (Spain)Rassoul Ndiaye – Le Havre AC (France)Pape Matar Sarr – Tottenham Hotspur (England)Pathé Ciss – Rayo Vallecano (Spain)Mamadou Lamine Camara – Renaissance de Berkane (Morocco)

Forwards: Sadio Mané – Al-Nassr FC (Saudi Arabia)Boulaye Dia – Lazio (Italy)Ismaïla Sarr – Crystal Palace (England)Iliman Ndiaye – Everton FC (England)Pape Cherif Ndiaye – Samsunspor (Turkey)Nicolas Jackson – Bayern Munich (on loan from Chelsea)Ibrahim Mbaye – Paris Saint-Germain (France)Habib Diallo – FC Metz (France)Cheikh Sabaly – FC Metz (France)Assane Diao – Como 1907 (Italy)