Patrick Vieira has arrived in Dakar ahead of his official presentation as Senegal manager, with the former France international preparing to announce his first squad on Friday.
The French-Senegalese coach landed in the Senegalese capital on Thursday evening, where he was greeted by a large group of supporters at Blaise-Diagne International Airport.
Vieira is scheduled to be formally presented as the new Lions manager on Friday, September 18, with the event due to take place at 10:30 a.m. in the press conference room at the Léopold Sédar Senghor Stadium.
The occasion will also mark the first opportunity for Vieira to name the players he intends to work with as he begins his tenure in charge of the national team.
The 50-year-old was appointed Senegal manager on August 18 and is now preparing for his first assignment in international management. Born in Dakar, Vieira played for France during a distinguished career before moving into coaching.
His appointment represents a return to his country of birth and the beginning of a new stage in his managerial career.
After being appointed, Vieira spoke of his pride at taking charge of Senegal and said he was eager to start working with the players.
“Honoured and proud to join Senegal as head coach of the senior national team,” he said at the time, adding that he was “looking forward to meeting the squad and getting to work together on the next steps.”
His first squad announcement is expected to attract considerable attention, with several players already being linked with places in the group by Senegalese media.
L’Équipe has reported that Malang Sarr could receive his first call-up for Senegal. Other names mentioned in reports include Lamine Sy, Sadibou Sané, Ngagne Demba Thiam, Mamour Ndiaye and Rassoul Ndiaye.
None of those reported selections have yet been confirmed by Vieira, however, and the new manager will have the final say when he announces his squad at Friday’s press conference.
Vieira will not have long to settle into his new role before Senegal return to competitive football.
The Lions are due to travel to Maputo on September 25 for a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Mozambique.
That fixture will provide Vieira with his first competitive match as Senegal manager and will come just one week after his official presentation.
Senegal will then face Ethiopia on September 29 before completing the sequence of three fixtures with a friendly against Comoros in Marseille on October 4.
The schedule means Vieira’s opening days in charge will combine the demands of international competition with the task of establishing his squad and putting his plans into practice.
His arrival in Dakar on Thursday, and the reception from supporters at the airport, marked the beginning of that process.
Friday’s presentation will give Vieira the opportunity to outline his first decisions as Senegal manager and name the players who will form his initial squad.
With the Mozambique qualifier approaching quickly, the new Lions boss will then have only a short period to prepare the team for his first competitive challenge.
