FIFA World Cup 2026: Ghana drop injured Kudus; Sadio Mane leads Senegal squad
Synopsis
Ghana will head to the first 48-team World Cup without their creative talisman Mohammed Kudus, a significant blow as Carlos Queiroz's side face England and Croatia in Group L. Senegal, meanwhile, double down on experience — 34-year-old Sadio Mane leads a Pape Thiaw squad drawn against France in Group I.
Key Takeaways
Ghana and Senegal announced their 26-man squads for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on 2 June .
Mohammed Kudus and Alexander Djiku miss out for Ghana due to injury.
Ghana are in Group L with England, Croatia, and Panama ; they open against Panama on 17 June .
Sadio Mane , 34, of Al-Nassr , headlines Senegal's squad under coach Pape Thiaw .
Senegal are in Group I with France, Norway, and Iraq .
The 2026 edition is the first 48-team World Cup, with a record 10 African representatives.
Ghana and Senegal, two of Africa's footballing heavyweights, on Tuesday, 2 June unveiled their 26-man squads for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with West Ham forward Mohammed Kudus ruled out through injury and former Liverpool star Sadio Mane headlining the Senegalese contingent. The announcements were made from Accra and Dakar respectively, ahead of the first 48-team edition of the tournament.
Ghana's squad: balance over surprise
Head coach Carlos Queiroz picked a blend of experience and youth, naming three goalkeepers, nine defenders, seven midfielders, and seven forwards. The Black Stars' core remains intact, with several recently capped young players retained alongside senior names.
The standout absentees are Mohammed Kudus and Alexander Djiku, both ruled out due to injury — a significant blow given Kudus's role as Ghana's creative fulcrum.
Group L: a tough draw for the Black Stars
Making their fifth World Cup appearance, Ghana have been drawn in Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama. Queiroz's side open their campaign against Panama on 17 June, before facing England and Croatia.
Ghana famously reached the quarterfinals in 2010 — still Africa's joint-best finish at a World Cup — but exited at the group stage in both Brazil 2014 and Qatar 2022. Progressing past the group will be the immediate measure of progress under Queiroz.
Senegal lean on Mane experience
Head coach Pape Thiaw's 26-man Senegal squad features three goalkeepers, eight defenders, seven midfielders, and eight forwards. At the heart of it is Sadio Mane, the 34-year-old Al-Nassr left winger and former Liverpool and Bayern Munich forward, who remains Senegal's most decorated active player.
The Lions of Teranga have been placed in Group I alongside France, Norway, and Iraq — a draw that pits Mane against the country where he built his European reputation.
The full Senegal squad
Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy, Mory Diaw, Yehvann Diouf.
Defenders: Kalidou Koulibaly, Moussa Niakhate, Mamadou Sarr, Abdoulaye Seck, Krepin Diatta, Antoine Mendy, Ismail Jakobs, El Hadj Malick Diouf.
Midfielders: Idrissa Gana Gueye, Lamine Camara, Pape Gueye, Pape Matar Sarr, Habib Diarra, Bara Sapoko Ndiaye, Pathe Ciss.
Forwards: Sadio Mane, Ismaila Sarr, Iliman Ndiaye, Nicolas Jackson, Cherif Ndiaye, Bamba Dieng, Ibrahima Mbaye, Assane Diao.
A historic edition for Africa
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams, with Africa receiving a record 10 slots — nearly double its previous allocation. The expanded format gives sides like Ghana and Senegal a wider path through the knockouts, but also raises expectations of a deep continental run.
Point of View
And replacing him against England and Croatia is a tactical headache Queiroz did not need. Senegal's gamble is the opposite: leaning on a 34-year-old Mane whose club football in Saudi Arabia raises legitimate sharpness questions at elite-tournament intensity. With 10 African slots and a 48-team format, the continent has its widest-ever runway, but both these squads look built more for survival in tough groups than for a deep run.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Mohammed Kudus not in Ghana's 2026 World Cup squad?
Mohammed Kudus has been ruled out of Ghana's 26-man squad due to injury, head coach Carlos Queiroz confirmed on 2 June. Defender Alexander Djiku is the other notable absentee, also sidelined through injury.
Which group are Ghana in at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Ghana have been drawn in Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama. They open their campaign against Panama on 17 June before facing England and Croatia.
Who are the key players in Senegal's 2026 World Cup squad?
Senegal's squad is headlined by 34-year-old Al-Nassr forward Sadio Mane, alongside Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Ismaila Sarr, and Nicolas Jackson. Coach Pape Thiaw has named three goalkeepers, eight defenders, seven midfielders, and eight forwards.
How many African teams will play at the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature a record 10 African representatives, the highest-ever continental allocation. It is also the first edition to expand to 48 teams overall.
What is Ghana's best World Cup performance?
Ghana's best World Cup finish was reaching the quarterfinals in 2010 in South Africa, which remains the joint-best run by an African nation. They exited at the group stage in both 2014 and 2022.
