Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw remains confident his side will be fully prepared for their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against France despite being held to a goalless draw by Saudi Arabia in their final warm-up match.
The Lions of Teranga concluded their World Cup preparations with a 0-0 stalemate on Tuesday night, ending their pre-tournament friendly campaign without registering a victory. While the result exposed concerns over Senegal’s finishing, Thiaw was encouraged by his team’s defensive organisation and ability to keep a clean sheet.
Speaking after the match, the Senegal coach admitted his players lacked efficiency in front of goal but highlighted the positives from their overall display.
“We are still in the preparation phase. We lacked efficiency in front of goal, but we also managed not to concede. That is something positive,” Thiaw said.
The draw came just days before Senegal begin their World Cup campaign, with attention now turning to their opening Group I clash against France on June 16.
Thiaw acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge awaiting his team against one of the tournament favourites. France arrive at the World Cup with a squad packed with world-class talent and remain among the strongest teams in international football.
Despite the quality within Didier Deschamps‘ side, the Senegal coach believes his players have what it takes to compete.
“We are facing one of the strongest teams in world football, a side with tremendous quality and experience. But we also have our own strengths and we will do everything possible to be ready for that challenge,” he added.
Senegal will be aiming for a positive start in a competitive Group I that also includes Norway and Iraq. A strong result against France could significantly boost the African champions’ hopes of reaching the knockout stages.
Although their preparations did not deliver the desired results, Thiaw will take encouragement from the defensive resilience and organisation shown by his side in recent outings. The remaining days before the tournament opener are expected to be focused on improving attacking sharpness and converting chances more effectively.
With a squad that blends experienced leaders and emerging talent, Senegal remain one of Africa’s strongest contenders at the tournament and will be eager to make an early statement against France.
The clash is expected to be one of the standout fixtures of the opening round as the Lions of Teranga seek to launch their World Cup campaign with a memorable result against one of the favourites for the title.
