Vieira era begins for Senegal with clash against Mozambique in AFCON 2027 qualifying

A new era without Mané

French legend Patrick Vieira will take charge of his first competitive match as Senegal coach against Mozambique in Group J of AFCON 2027 qualifying. According to CAFOnline.com, Vieira has named 29 players for this match, the following one against Ethiopia on 29 September, and a friendly against Comoros in Marseille on 4 October. Long-time talisman Sadio Mané is absent due to what Vieira described as a "physical issue", though the coach said the forward remains part of his plans. His absence opens the door for others, with Nicolas Jackson, Iliman Ndiaye, Ismaila Sarr, Assane Diao and Ibrahim Mbaye among the attacking options. Fresh faces such as Malang Sarr, Lamine Sy and Sadibou Sané have also been called up, alongside experienced players Kalidou Koulibaly, Idrissa Gana Gueye and Pape Matar Sarr.

Uncertainty over the captain's armband

Senegalese outlet Seneweb, citing Match360 and Afrik-Foot, reports that Koulibaly may lose the captain's armband under Vieira, with the coach reportedly considering rotating the role between Ismaïla Sarr and Pape Gueye, both of whom stood out at the World Cup. An answer is expected in the match against Mozambique itself.

Where is the match being played?

Sources disagree here: CAFOnline.com states that Senegal are the home side for this fixture, while Goal.com and Seneweb report that the squad travelled to Mozambique's capital, Maputo, with Seneweb specifically describing the game as "Mozambique–Senegal" taking place there.

Diouf denies rift with Vieira

Rumours spread on social media of a supposed rift between Senegal legend El Hadji Diouf and the new coach. Speaking to Seneweb, Diouf denied the claims, saying that those spreading such rumours are not insulting him or Vieira, but Senegal itself. He called on the team to focus on winning.

Niakhaté: World Cup failure must be left behind

Defender Moussa Niakhaté told a pre-match press conference that the 2026 World Cup, where Senegal were eliminated in the round of 16, was a failure for the team, but urged the squad to learn from it and move forward. "We are still African champions," he said, stressing that Senegal must secure qualification for AFCON 2027.

The Senegal-Mozambique fixture is also part of the broader launch of Groups J-L qualifying, which includes Nigeria, who begin their campaign without injured striker Victor Osimhen.