Accra/Dakar, June 2: Ghana and Senegal, two of the top countries from Africa, named their 26-man squads for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, confirming the presence of some of the Continent’s big names in the mega event.
Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz on Tuesday announced a 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, picking a balanced group with experienced and young players.
The squad, which contains few surprises, features three goalkeepers, nine defenders, seven midfielders, and seven forwards, with most of the Black Stars’ key players included alongside several young talents recently called up. Mohammed Kudus and Alexander Djiku are the two notable absentees, with both missing out through injury.
Making its fifth World Cup appearance, Ghana has been drawn in Group L with Panama, England, and Croatia. The Black Stars will open their campaign against Panama on June 17 before facing England and Croatia.
Ghana reached the quarterfinals in 2010 but failed to advance beyond the group stage in their last two World Cup appearances, in Brazil and Qatar.
Sadio Mane in Senegal squad
Former Liverpool and Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane will be the top attraction in Senegal’s 26-member squad shortlisted for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. The 34-year-old Mane plays as a left winger for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr.
The 26-man shortlist includes three goalkeepers, eight defenders, seven midfielders, and eight forwards. Senegal will compete in Group I alongside France, Norway, and Iraq.
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 fast approaching, both Ghana and Senegal will be aiming to make a strong statement on football’s biggest stage. While Ghana will hope to recapture the magic of its historic 2010 run despite the absence of key players through injury, Senegal will look to draw inspiration from the experience and leadership of Sadio Mane as they seek to establish themselves among the tournament’s leading contenders. Facing challenging groups that feature some of the world’s top footballing nations, the two African powerhouses carry not only their own ambitions but also the hopes of a continent eager to see one of its representatives make a deep run in North America. As the countdown to kick-off continues, all eyes will be on the Black Stars and the Lions of Teranga to see whether they can rise to the occasion and add a new chapter to Africa’s World Cup story. (IANS)
