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Comoros
SenegalThere is something genuinely compelling about watching a heavyweight African nation try to rediscover its swagger against a side that has built its entire identity on refusing to be pushed around. Comoros are ranked 90 places below Senegal in the FIFA standings, but anyone who follows African football closely will tell you that the gap on paper rarely tells the full story when these smaller nations get a chance to test themselves against the continent’s elite. And with both sides having enjoyed positive results in their most recent outings, there is real momentum to examine on either side of this one.
For Senegal, this is also very much about Patrick Vieira finding his feet and answering a few questions about what his Lions of Teranga side are actually going to look like. A 1-1 draw and a narrow 1-0 win from his opening two assignments have left some supporters unconvinced. Vieira is a manager who has faced accusations of pragmatism throughout his coaching career, and with a World Cup collapse still fresh in the memory, the fanbase wants to see something with a bit more spark. Comoros will fancy they can make life uncomfortable if Senegal are not fully switched on.
This international friendly takes place at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, a proper football arena that gives the occasion a real feel to it. It is the first time these two nations have met, which adds a layer of intrigue in itself. Both camps arrive here having won their most recent fixtures, so there is a decent competitive edge to what is technically a non-competitive fixture.
There are a few interesting selection decisions to keep an eye on ahead of this one, particularly in the Senegal camp where Vieira has some options worth weighing up. Comoros, meanwhile, will be looking to build on the momentum of their win over Namibia.
Comoros are expected to set up as they did against Namibia, with Youssouf pushing forward from right back and the front line built around a narrow structure. Velud tends to organise his side to be defensively compact first, with the attacking threat coming through transitions and set pieces rather than sustained possession play.
Senegal should line up with Diaw in goal, a back four of Diouf, Koulibaly, Sane and Sy, Gueye partnering P Gueye in the engine room, and Sima, Sarr and Mbaye providing the width and creativity behind Nicolas Jackson up front. The big call for Vieira is whether Idrissa Gana Gueye gets the nod from the start given what is at stake for the manager in terms of winning over the doubters.
Senegal’s form picture is one of a side that has not quite clicked into gear yet. They won their opening two warm-up fixtures ahead of the World Cup earlier this year, but the two matches that followed were frustrating. A goalless draw against Saudi Arabia in their final pre-tournament outing suggested something was not quite flowing in attack, and the World Cup itself ended in one of the more shocking exits in recent memory, a 3-2 defeat to Belgium after coming so close to reaching the last 16. Pape Thiaw paid the price for that, and Vieira inherited a group that carries some unresolved questions about its mentality and consistency.
The new gaffer has steadied the ship with four points from two games, but neither performance has convinced. A 1-1 draw with Mozambique and a 1-0 win over Ethiopia are functional results rather than statements. Vieira’s Lions have the attacking personnel to be much more expressive, and this fixture feels like a moment where he needs to let them off the leash a bit rather than grind through another conservative display.
Comoros come into this with a bit of life about them. After a run of just two wins in 11 matches and five consecutive games without a goal, they have now scored in each of their last three outings. The 1-0 defeat of Namibia through Youssouf’s decisive strike gave Velud his first competitive home win as Comoros boss, and there is a sense that something is slowly clicking into place for this group. That said, scoring just once per game across those three matches tells you their attacking output still needs work if they are going to genuinely trouble sides of Senegal’s quality.
There is nothing to reference here in terms of previous meetings because this is simply the first time these two nations have faced each other. It is a proper maiden encounter, which means no historical baggage, no psychological edge built up over years of previous results, just two teams going at it fresh.
What we do know is that Comoros have form when it comes to upsetting nations ranked well above them. Their away victory against Tunisia in the 2024 AFCON qualifiers when they were given barely a seven percent chance of winning is exactly the kind of result that reminds you not to write this side off just because the rankings say you should. Senegal will know that, and any smart preparation from Vieira’s coaching staff will have flagged it.
Senegal have the firepower to win this comfortably, but they have been finding it harder than expected to translate talent into goals under Vieira. Comoros are organised and have shown they can score, even if only once per game. The angle here is a Senegal win without a clean sheet, with a couple of specific markets offering decent value alongside that headline call.
Ibrahim Mbaye is the pick here. The Aston Villa winger has five international goals in 17 appearances, which is a genuinely impressive return at this level, and he tends to get into good positions whether playing off the left or cutting inside. With Senegal likely to dominate possession and create chances, Mbaye’s movement and finishing ability make him a strong candidate to open the scoring.
Over 2.5 goals looks the right call. Senegal have the quality to score two or three without too much trouble against a Comoros side that will carry a defensive risk. Comoros have found the net in each of their last three matches, so there is every chance they grab one themselves, and a three or four goal game feels more likely than a tight low-scoring affair.
Over 8.5 corners is worth backing here. Senegal will be pushing forward through wide areas with Mbaye and Sima threatening from the flanks, and Comoros will likely defend deep and invite pressure, which naturally produces a high volume of deliveries into the box and corners when those attacks break down. A one-sided territorial battle tends to generate corners at a healthy rate.
Over 2.5 cards is a reasonable shout. Comoros will need to be physical to contain Senegal’s quality, and with a green referee in terms of this specific fixture, there is always a chance the tempo and pressure produces a few fouls that get punished. Neither side is particularly reckless, but the combination of a dominant Senegal and a Comoros side forced into last-ditch defending creates the conditions for bookings to accumulate.
A 2-1 scoreline in favour of Senegal feels right. Vieira’s side are good enough to win without being quite clinical enough yet to run away with it, and Comoros have shown they can get on the scoresheet even against better opposition. Two goals for the Lions of Teranga and a consolation for Les Coelacantes feels like it captures the likely shape of this game.
Yes to both teams to score. Comoros have scored in each of their last three matches, including against Namibia and Cameroon, suggesting they carry at least some threat in the final third even when outclassed. Senegal’s defensive record under Vieira has not been impeccable either, and a Comoros side with Youssouf bombing forward from right back could well nick a goal on the counter.
| Market | Selection |
|---|---|
| Match Result | Senegal to Win |
| Both Teams To Score | Yes |
| First Goalscorer | Ibrahim Mbaye |
A Senegal win with both sides scoring and Mbaye getting the opener combines the most logical outcome of the match with the attacking patterns and individual quality that make this fixture tick.
Senegal should win this, and probably win it comfortably enough, but Vieira still has work to do in terms of convincing the fanbase that this group has genuinely moved on from the World Cup heartbreak. The talent in that squad is undeniable and Mbaye in particular looks like a player who can carry real threat at international level. Comoros will put up a fight and will likely grab a goal of their own, but the class gap across the pitch is simply too wide to bridge over 90 minutes.
The predicted score is Senegal 2-1 Comoros. A victory for the Lions of Teranga, with enough in it to suggest progress under Vieira, but not quite the commanding statement performance that would fully silence the critics. This one should be a decent watch though, and for neutrals that is more than enough reason to tune in.