Senegal
Senegal arrive at their fourth tournament — third consecutive — and as the most credible African contender. Pape Thiaw, who took over from Aliou Cissé in 2024, retains the structure that delivered the 2022 round of 16 and the 2021 Africa Cup. Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal) and Édouard Mendy (Al-Ahli) form the spine; Ismaïla Sarr (Crystal Palace) and Iliman Ndiaye (Everton) inject Premier League pace; Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham) is the midfield future. The Lions of Teranga have the squad to make a deep run but lost AFCON 2025 in the round of 16, raising questions. Group I with France, Norway and Iraq is brutal — second place is the realistic target, but it requires beating Norway and not collapsing against France.