Senegal

Senegal kept up their unbeaten start to 2026 World Cup qualification with a 1-0 win away at Mauritania on Sunday, while Tunisia also stayed top of their group despite a goalless draw away against Namibia.

Algeria and Senegal both suffered disappointing results in Africa's qualification for the 2026 World Cup on Thursday.

Here are ESPN's picks for the most exciting players who could be set to make their international bows for African nations over the week ahead.

Moussa Niakhate missed his penalty in the shoot-out as holders Senegal tumbled out of the Africa Cup of Nations after a drama-filled 5-4 loss to hosts Ivory Coast following a 1-1 draw at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium on Monday.

Abdoulaye Seck and Iliman Ndiaye scored second-half goals as defending champions Senegal beat Guinea 2-0 in Yamoussoukro on Tuesday to make it three wins from three in Africa Cup of Nations Group C, as both teams advanced to the last-16.

The Senegal federation said that Cissé was treated by medical staff for a "benign infectious pathology" and had been kept overnight for tests

Ismaila Sarr scored one goal and laid on another as defending champions Senegal beat Cameroon 3-1 on Friday and booked their place in the round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations, leaving their opponents in some peril.

Senegal began their Africa Cup of Nations title defence with a 3-0 victory over 10-man Gambia helped by Lamine Camara's double.

Ed Dove talks about why Senegal's Lamine Camara and Morocco's Amir Richardson could be the standouts of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The road to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations has been relatively smooth, which is not typical for AFCON, but don't expect a steady build-up to the competition to lead to a chilled campaign.