Sénégal vs Etats-Unis (2-3) : Les tops et les flops
Senegal stumbled in their first World Cup 2026 warm-up match. In Charlotte, the Lions of Teranga lost 3-2 to the United States. The defeat was marked by significant defensive lapses. Here are the highs and lows of the match.
The tops
Bara Sapoko Ndiaye
He had a chance to make his mark 24 hours before the squad deadline, and he seized it! Rather timid in the opening minutes, the 18-year-old overcame the pressure of his international debut and grew in stature as the match progressed. He quickly took control of the game. While everyone expected his more experienced teammates, Lamine Camara and Habib Diarra, to shine, it was the Bayern Munich midfielder who showcased his talent in the heart of the midfield. With his mastery of the tempo, his organization, and his defensive impact, Bara Sapoko Ndiaye had a successful game.
The only surprise was his positioning in the first half, at the top of the midfield three, whereas Habib Diarra was expected to be in that position.
Sadio Mané
He wasn't dazzling in the game, but "Nianthio" stepped up when it mattered. When Senegal was buckling under the American attacks, he gave them hope by reducing the deficit with a well-executed finish, before equalizing with a fierce effort. Captain for the evening, he greatly motivated his teammates, who had been overwhelmed by the American players during the first 30 minutes.
The flops
The hinge
While Senegal is concerned about Kalidou Koulibaly's injury problems, the central defensive pairing of Abdoulaye Seck and Mamadou Sarr failed to inspire confidence. On the first goal, Seck made a poor clearance, leaving Pulisic behind. On the second, Mamadou Sarr was caught off guard, again making a risky foray forward. Both positioning and coordination were sorely lacking throughout the match, despite a new central defensive pairing in the second half (Moustapha Mbow and Moussa Niakhaté).
Moustapha Mbow
A disastrous start! Moustapha Mbow completely missed the mark, making some surprising defensive errors. Right from the start, he lost possession dangerously, resulting in a goal disallowed for offside by Folarin Balogun. A few minutes later, the Paris FC defender tangled up the ball as the last defender, gifting Zendejas an opportunity. Fortunately, his recovery and the American's slowness came to the rescue. Still struggling, Mbow completely misjudged his clearance in the 63rd minute, handing Balogun the winning goal. A poor performance that could prove fatal for him ahead of Pape Thiaw's final squad announcement, due no later than June 2nd.
His performance could also revive the debate surrounding the non-selection of Malang Sarr, elected in the Ligue 1 team of the week, who was omitted from the Senegalese list in favour of... Moustapha Mbow.
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