Senegal preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations have suffered a setback after four players were ruled out of the tournament because their naturalisation processes were not completed before the CAF deadline.
Head coach Mame Moussa Cissé had named a 26-player squad on Monday, 20 July, ahead of the competition in Morocco, but Mikaela Bottega, Mariama Deen Toure, Aminata Keita and Mady Soumare will not travel with the team.
The Senegalese Football Federation confirmed that the four players, who had all been involved during the team’s preparation camp, could not complete the required eligibility procedures in time to be registered for the tournament.
With the deadline set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) now expired, Senegal will begin their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a smaller squad.
The development represents a significant challenge for Cissé, who had included the players regularly in recent national team selections as part of his preparations for the continental competition.
The Lionesses had been working towards the tournament with the expectation of having a full squad available, but the administrative issue has forced changes just days before the competition begins.
The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will take place in Morocco from 25 July to 16 August, with Senegal facing a difficult group-stage challenge.
The Lionesses have been drawn in Group A alongside tournament hosts Morocco, Algeria and Kenya, meaning they will need maximum focus and squad depth to compete against strong opposition.
The absence of the four players could affect Senegal’s options as the team attempts to improve on previous performances at the continental level.
Although the players were part of Senegal’s preparations, they will now have to wait for another opportunity to represent the national team once their naturalisation procedures are completed.
Despite the setback, Senegal will still enter the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with ambitions of making a strong impression.
The Lionesses have continued to develop in recent years and have established themselves among the competitive teams in African women’s football.
With Morocco, Algeria and Kenya standing in their way in Group A, Senegal will need to rely on unity, tactical discipline and the depth of the players available as they chase success on one of African football’s biggest stages.
