Football: The numbers for the Lions of Teranga 2023
In the national team, the Lions of Teranga haven’t suffered from a hangover following a very prosperous year in 2022.They may have seen some challenging seasons at the club level, but they are still going strong while wearing the Senegal jersey despite a few setbacks. Find out Senegal’s 2023 performances.
It’s unlikely that the defending African champions will compete in 2023. They have never been able to win at Kégué, in Togo, where they played their final game. Senegal drew 0-0 with Egypt, their first draw since the AFCON 2021 final, which they won on penalties. This year’s ninth game for Aliou Cissé’s team ended in a goalless tie.
Two notable victories, one at home loss
Senegal participated in nine games in 2023. Five of these were wins for the Lions, including two noteworthy ones. In a summertime friendly, they won 4-2 over Brazil. The two countries drew 1-1 in 2019, marking the second occasion under Aliou Cissé that the Senegalese faced the team with the most World Cup victories and their only defeat. Senegal not only defeated Brazil but also Cameroon (1-0), which has always been one of Senegal’s biggest rivals. Apart from winning these two exhibition matches away from home, the Lions also thrilled the supporters on March 24 at the Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade when they defeated Mozambique in the AFCON 2023 qualifying match. It ended in a 5-1 manita with some really good goals.
But not everything has been sunshine and roses. It was the Lions’ first loss in their newly constructed stadium. They suffered it at the hands of another evildoer. Algeria prevailed in Dakar 1-0. Senegal has played the Fennecs five times since Cissé came off the bench; they have lost four of those matches 1-0, including one in the AFCON final, and drawn two.
Sadio was the most resolute, and Habib was his deputy.
Sadio Mané, the star of the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon and a major omission from the 2022 World Cup, rejoined the Senegalese national squad in March and hasn’t diminished in strength. In 2023, the number 10 was Senegal’s leading scorer once more. He scored six goals in nine games, including a brace against Brazil (4-2). With two assists, Mané was also the team’s joint best passer.He has made 101 appearances with the Lions and has contributed 25 assists and 41 goals.
Habib Diallo was the most decisive player from Senegal, second only to Sadio Mané. The former Génération Foot player is still a valuable starter up front in 2023 with the Lions of Teranga, despite missing out on the 2022 World Cup. He has two goals and two assists to his name.
PMS, Iliman, Seck, Sabaly, Camara, and PMS open their account. In 2023, six players scored their first goal for their country.At the Stade Abdoulaye Wade, Iliman Ndiaye and Youssouf Sabaly opened their accounts against Mozambique last March with a 5-1 triumph. On June 17 (1-1) Abdoulaye Seck scored his debut goal against Benin. On the sixth and last day of the AFCON 2023 qualifiers, Mamadou Lamine Camara, the African U20 champion, scored Senegal’s goal in the 1-1 draw with Rwanda. Young midfielders Pape Matar Sarr and Lamine Camara each scored their first goals last Saturday (4-0) against South Sudan.
Sadio and Gana, the “centenarians,” Blocking Kouyaté at ninety
And in the history of Senegalese soccer, 2023 will belong. Two of the team’s most important players are over 100 caps. The first football players from Senegal to do so are them. It was precisely Idrissa Gana Guèye who was first. Launched into the national team by Amara Traoré in November 2011 during a 4-1 victory over Guinea, the defensive midfielder reached 100 caps on March 24, 2023 against Mozambique. Sadio Mané, who made his first appearance for the Lions of Teranga in May 2012 against Morocco (1-0) thanks to the late Joseph Koto, celebrated his 100th last Saturday against South Sudan. In 2024, Cheikhou Kouyaté, another Mammoth, might join this pair. He has amassed ninety-nine caps.
The Lions of Teranga in 2023: 9 matches, 5 wins, 3 draws, 1 loss, 17 goals scored, 6 conceded.
24/03/23 Senegal 5 – 1 Mozambique
28/03/23 Mozambique 0 – 1 Senegal
17/06/23 Benin 1 – 1 Senegal
09/09/23 Senegal 1-1 Rwanda
Friendlies
06/20/23 Brazil 2 – 4 Senegal
12/09/23 Senegal 0-1 Algeria
16/10/23 Senegal 1 – 0 Cameroon
2026 World Cup qualifiers
18/11/23 Senegal 4-0 South Sudan
11/21/23 Togo 0-0 Senegal
Senegalese scorers in 2023
6 goals : Sadio Mané
2 goals: Boulaye Dia, Habib Diallo
1 goal: Youssouf Sabaly, Iliman Ndiaye, Habib Diallo, Abdoulaye Seck, Mamadou Lamine Camara, Lamine Camara, Pape Matar Sarr
Senegalese assists in 2023
2 assists: Sadio Mané, Habib Diallo
1 assist: Idrissa Guèye, Cheikh Tidiane Sidibé, Nicolas Jackson, Iliman Ndiaye, Youssouf Sabaly, Abdallah Ndour, Bamba Dieng.
