Your bluffer's guide to the World Cup: Senegal 🇸🇳 | OneFootball

In the latest of this series ahead of the World Cup in Russia, here is all you need to know about Senegal so you can blag your way through a conversation down the pub this summer.

The key player is … Sadio Mané

Mané has become a cornerstone of Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool team in the past couple of seasons and is Senegal’s talisman.

Liverpool missed him greatly when he was absent for the African Cup of Nations earlier this season, and his country need him just as much, if not more.

The 26-year-old has scored 14 goals in 51 appearances for the national team so far, and there’s every chance he’ll add at least one or two more to that tally this summer in Russia.

The young player to watch out for is … Keita Baldé

Baldé made a big money move from Lazio to Monaco last season and impressed during his first season in France. Born in Spain to Senagalese parents, the 23-year-old is a skilful attacker who is equally adept playing at high speed on either flank.

He might well be on the move again in the not too distant future, and a good World Cup will certainly put him in the shop window.

I would like a fun fact about the coach. What can you tell me?

You might remember Aliou Cissé from his spells at Portsmouth and Birmingham City during his playing days.

The 42-year-old represented Senegal at the 2002 World Cup and has coached the team since 2015. Last November, he celebrated his side’s qualification for the World Cup in a very effusive manner.

If I were to get a line of the national anthem tattooed onto my back, what should I go for?

“Splendides comme ébène et forts comme le muscle” which means “Splendid as ebony and strong as muscle”

How cool is that?

Summarise this team for me in one emoji, please

🦁

Who will make their best XI in Russia?

And finally, tell me how the team will perform in Russia?

Senegal have a decent chance of qualifying from a group containing Japan, Colombia and Poland, and they’d certainly give the likes of England and Belgium a run for their money in the round of 16.

But at the risk of being made to look foolish, that’s probably where their story will end.