Patrick Vieira begins Senegal national team tenure with European scouting trip and squad overhaul plans
Newly appointed Senegal national team coach Patrick Vieira is embarking on a European tour to prepare for his first squad selection. He will visit England on September 2 and 3 to meet with seven players, before traveling to Italy to scout two young dual-national forwards. Vieira, born in Dakar in 1976, was appointed on August 18, 2026, by the Senegalese Football Federation, succeeding Pape Thiaw. This marks Vieira's first role as a national team coach, having previously managed clubs such as Nice, Crystal Palace, Strasbourg, and Genoa. His initial squad list is expected to feature a significant number of young dual-nationals identified during this scouting trip. Vieira is reportedly considering reducing the number of long-standing key players, with only two of the usual four core members potentially making his first call-up. Some players from the 2026 World Cup squad may also be excluded, signaling a clear intent for a transition. This strategy aligns with his stated objective of renewing the team, which has been led by experienced players like Sadio Mané, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Idrissa Gana Guèye for several years. Vieira faces a tight schedule, with his first official matches, qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, set for September 23 against Mozambique and September 27 against Ethiopia.
