Senior members of Senegal national football team have publicly denied reports of internal tensions surrounding the possible inclusion of Malang Sarr in the squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The controversy emerged just hours before head coach Pape Thiaw was due to unveil Senegal’s final squad for the tournament, with rumours circulating on social media about alleged disagreements within the Lions dressing room.
According to the reports, several senior players had supposedly held discussions with the coach regarding the potential selection of the defender, who currently plays for RC Lens.
The speculation also suggested that the possible arrival of Sarr had created divisions within the national team camp.
However, Senegal captain figures quickly moved to reject the claims.
Idrissa Gana Gueye, the most capped player in Senegal’s history and a midfielder for Everton FC, strongly denied the reports in comments posted online.
“The coach’s choices belong only to him and his staff. The players have nothing to do with it. There has never been a meeting with the senior players,” said Gueye.
The experienced midfielder also dismissed the reports as “fake news”, clearly expressing frustration at what he viewed as attempts to create unnecessary controversy around the national side ahead of the World Cup.
Shortly afterwards, Édouard Mendy also reacted publicly to the rumours.
The Al Hilal SFC goalkeeper used irony before delivering a broader appeal for unity around the national team.
“He (the coach) doesn’t even call me to check on me, and you want us to hold meetings for whom, for what? More seriously, this is not the time for division through LIES, but for UNITY to bring honor to our country,” Mendy stated.
The responses from two of Senegal’s most influential players appear aimed at calming tensions before what is expected to be one of the most closely followed squad announcements in the country in recent years.
Supporters have been eagerly awaiting confirmation of the players selected for Senegal’s World Cup campaign, particularly amid growing debate surrounding Malang Sarr’s possible inclusion and concerns over the fitness of captain Kalidou Koulibaly.
The situation highlights the intense public scrutiny surrounding the Teranga Lions as they prepare for another appearance on football’s biggest stage.
Senegal are set to compete at their fourth FIFA World Cup and their third consecutive tournament following appearances in 2018 and 2022.
The country’s recent success in African football, including their Africa Cup of Nations triumph, has significantly increased expectations around the national side.
That success has also elevated the profile of the players, making debates around squad selection particularly sensitive among supporters and media outlets.
For the senior players, however, the message ahead of the tournament appears focused on maintaining stability and unity within the squad.
Both Gueye and Mendy stressed that selection decisions remain solely in the hands of the coaching staff, while rejecting suggestions of interference from senior members of the team.
