Honestly, if you've been watching African football lately, it feels like the Lions of Teranga just don't know how to lose. We're sitting here in early 2026, and the Senegal national football team standings reflect a level of dominance that's honestly a bit scary for the rest of the continent. They just punched their ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and as of today, January 17, they’re literally 24 hours away from the AFCON 2025 final against Morocco.
It’s a wild time to be a fan in Dakar.
The team has undergone a massive shift recently. After Aliou Cissé's long era ended, Pape Thiaw stepped in and basically hasn't missed a beat. He took over in late 2024 and somehow made an already clinical team even more aggressive. People were worried about the transition. Turns out, they didn't need to be.
The Road to 2026: World Cup Qualifying Dominance
Senegal didn't just qualify for the 2026 World Cup; they absolutely stormed Group B. They finished at the very top of the pile with 24 points from 10 matches.
Look at the numbers. They went undefeated. Seven wins, three draws, and zero losses. They racked up a massive +19 goal difference, scoring 22 times and only letting in three goals. Three! That's defensive discipline that most European giants would kill for.
The turning point was definitely that heated match in Kinshasa back in September 2025. They were trailing 2-0 against DR Congo at the Stade des Martyrs. Most teams would have folded under that noise. Instead, they clawed back to win 3-2, with Pape Matar Sarr bagging the winner in the 87th minute. That win basically broke the spirit of the rest of the group.
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By the time they hit the final matchday against Mauritania, it was a victory lap. A 4-0 drubbing, with Sadio Mané showing why he’s still the king by scoring a brace.
Final Group B Standings (WCQ 2026)
Senegal finished comfortably in first place with 24 points. DR Congo followed in second with 22, putting up a hell of a fight but ultimately falling short. Sudan took third with 13 points, while Togo, Mauritania, and South Sudan filled out the bottom of the table. It wasn't even close at the end.
AFCON 2025: The Final Hurrah for a Legend?
Right now, the big news isn't just the standings; it's the drama in Morocco. Senegal has been perfect in this Africa Cup of Nations. They topped their group, breezed through the knockouts, and just took down Egypt in a massive semi-final.
But there’s a bittersweet vibe. Sadio Mané has basically hinted that this is his last AFCON. He's 33. He’s won it all. Coach Thiaw is out here publicly begging him to stay for the World Cup cycle, but the legend seems content. Mané has 11 career AFCON goals now, and if he wins tomorrow, he goes out at the absolute peak.
The final against Morocco in Rabat is going to be insane. We're talking about the #1 and #2 ranked teams in Africa.
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FIFA World Rankings as of January 2026
- Morocco: 13th (1st in Africa)
- Senegal: 12th or 20th (Sources vary slightly, but they are firmly 2nd in Africa)
Some projections actually have Senegal jumping to 12th in the world if they win this final. Think about that. Top 12 globally. That’s elite.
Why the Defense is So Hard to Break
It starts with Kalidou Koulibaly. Even though he's missed a couple of games due to suspension this tournament, his presence is everything. But it’s the emergence of the "new" guard that has kept the Senegal national football team standings so high.
Ismaïla Sarr and Nicolas Jackson are finally living up to the massive hype. Jackson, in particular, has found a weirdly effective rhythm under Thiaw. He’s not just a target man anymore; he’s dropping deep, dragging defenders out, and creating space for Mané.
Then you have the midfield. Pape Matar Sarr is arguably the best box-to-box player in Africa right now. He’s everywhere. He scores, he tackles, he doesn't stop running. It's exhausting just watching him.
What's Next for the Lions?
The immediate next step is the AFCON Final on Sunday, January 18. After that, it’s all about the World Cup 2026 draw. Senegal is already booked for the big show in the US, Mexico, and Canada.
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They’ve got some massive friendlies lined up for the summer of 2026, including a rematch against France in New Jersey. Remember 2002? The vibes are starting to feel a lot like that again.
If you’re tracking the Senegal national football team standings, keep an eye on the youth integration. Thiaw is slowly bringing in kids like Iliman Ndiaye and Cherif Ndiaye to replace the aging 2021 championship core. It’s a risky move, but so far, it’s paying off in spades.
To stay ahead of the curve, watch the result of the Morocco final closely. A win there doesn't just give them a trophy; it likely cements them as the highest-ranked African team in history heading into a World Cup. If you're betting or just following the CAF scene, the smart money is still on the Lions. They've found a way to balance the "old" Mané magic with a high-press system that most African teams just can't handle for 90 minutes.
Monitor the squad announcements in March 2026 for the World Cup warm-ups. That’s when we’ll see if the "Mané retirement" talk is real or just tournament emotion. Either way, the foundation is solid.