Senegal’s road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup reads like a Netflix drama that got renewed for a season nobody expected. The West African side won the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final 1-0 against hosts Morocco on January 18, only to have that victory annulled nearly two months later when the Confederation of African Football overturned the result on March 17, awarding Morocco a 3-0 win instead.

With their World Cup group stage opener against France set for June 16, the Lions of Teranga are targeting a semi-final run, which would be the deepest by an African nation in World Cup history.

The AFCON controversy that changed everything

Senegal’s players protested a contentious penalty call during the AFCON final. CAF…