Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw has appealed to Senegalese communities across North America to create a vibrant atmosphere for the Teranga Lions when they face France in their opening Group I fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday.
With travel and visa challenges preventing many supporters from making the journey from Senegal to the United States, the African giants will begin their campaign without the usual wave of fans who traditionally follow the national team to major tournaments.
Despite that setback, Thiaw remains optimistic that Senegalese living abroad will provide the backing needed as his side prepares for a demanding encounter at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
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“Of course, we’d like to have our fans with us. They push us, especially in tough moments, but we won’t have them with us,” Thiaw told reporters.
The West African nation enjoys a significant diaspora presence throughout North America, particularly in cities such as New York, Chicago and Montreal. New York’s Harlem neighbourhood, widely known as “Little Senegal,” is home to one of the continent’s largest overseas Senegalese communities, giving the team reason to expect a strong turnout in the stands.
Thiaw believes that support could prove invaluable as Senegal seek to upset one of the tournament favourites.
“We do have a major Senegalese community here, and we know the Senegalese are very patriotic. They love their national team,” he said. “You’ll see it tomorrow, and you won’t believe that there aren’t any Senegalese people travelling from Senegal.”
Beyond the backing of supporters, the 45-year-old manager stressed the importance of opening the competition on a positive note. A strong result against France, he believes, would inject confidence into the squad and strengthen team unity ahead of the remaining group-stage matches.
“It’s important to gain trust early on and to help with the team spirit. We know it won’t be easy, but we are prepared and ready,” he said. “We have weapons of our own, and we can beat any team if we do things right.”
Following the high-profile clash with France, Senegal will stay in the New York metropolitan area for a second group match against Norway before travelling north to Toronto for their final Group I fixture against Iraq. The Canadian leg of their campaign is expected to attract even greater support from African fans due to more accessible travel arrangements.
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As one of Africa’s leading hopes at the tournament, Senegal arrive at the World Cup carrying the ambition of replicating, and perhaps surpassing, the continent’s previous successes on football’s biggest stage. A positive result against France would not only strengthen their qualification hopes but also send an early message to the rest of the competition.
