Senegal will begin full preparations for their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign on Tuesday when Patrick Vieira holds his first collective training session with the squad in Maputo.
The Lions began assembling in Mozambique on Monday, with 15 players arriving on the opening day of camp. The rest of the squad are expected to join on Tuesday, giving Vieira his full group ahead of their opening qualifier.
The staggered arrivals were largely due to players’ club commitments, with some involved in matches on Saturday and others playing on Sunday.
As a result, Vieira’s initial priority was recovery rather than intensive tactical work.
The first group of players to arrive completed recovery exercises at the team hotel as the coaching staff looked to manage their physical condition following club matches and the journey to Mozambique.
“The trip went very well. It was a long journey. The difficulty was really getting all the players together, because some players played on Saturday and others on Sunday,” Vieira said.
“So, they arrived in small groups. But for the first group that arrived today (Monday), the priority was really recovery. That’s why recovery work was done at the hotel and we’ll start the first training session tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday). What’s important is to have the big day in mind and to be fresh.”
With the remaining players due to report on Tuesday, Vieira will finally have the opportunity to work with the complete squad.
The focus will now shift towards building the team tactically while ensuring the players remain fresh ahead of the opening fixture.
Senegal will face hosts Mozambique on September 25 in Maputo in their first match of the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
The limited preparation period means Vieira will have to balance tactical preparation with player recovery as the Lions look to make a positive start to their qualification campaign.
Tuesday’s session will therefore mark the beginning of Senegal’s collective preparations for their first competitive assignment of the international window.
