After a bruising evening in London, the Teranga Lions turn their gaze to Turkey with a point to prove and lessons to apply. The Senegal vs Kenya friendly arrives at the perfect moment, an immediate chance for Pape Thiaw’s group to convert frustration into focus as they regroup following a 2-0 defeat to Brazil at the Emirates Stadium.
Setting the stage in Antalya
Senegal meet Benni McCarthy’s Harambee Stars in Turkey on Tuesday, with the match slated for Antalya and billed as part of the African champions’ pre-Africa Cup of Nations tune-up. Thiaw’s men, who saw a 26-match unbeaten run snapped by Brazil, are looking to reassert their rhythm, while Kenya also seek a response after a 1-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea on Friday.
There is a clear narrative thread running through this friendly. Senegal want immediate improvement, Kenya want to measure themselves against a continental heavyweight, and both staffs want clarity before the next competitive window. For Thiaw, this is an opportunity to keep what worked in London and correct what did not, a theme he emphasized after full time at the Emirates.
What we learned from Brazil
Brazil scored twice in the first half, through Estevao and Casemiro, and then managed the game. Thiaw did not sugarcoat the opening spell, admitting that conceding early made the climb steep against a side of that stature. Yet he also found value in the response and insisted the second half showed the team’s true level, with chances created and resolve displayed.
“In the second half, we returned with a better showing, and I believe we deserved at least one goal in this fixture.”
He framed it as a learning step, calling it a good loss because of the lessons it offered against elite opposition. The coach underlined that such tests are necessary, that growth comes from facing the strongest. Crucially, he rejected any idea that the setback derailed momentum, pointing instead to how quickly Senegal can apply those takeaways against Kenya.
Why respect matters to Pape Thiaw
Thiaw’s most stinging words in London were not aimed at the result. They targeted what he called a lack of respect in the match organisation. The coach said both teams were told not to train on the stadium pitch on the eve of the game, yet Brazil were allowed to do so while Senegal were not. He made it clear this was not excuse making, rather a principle he wanted to spotlight.
“This is a heartfelt outcry, and I’m not saying this because of the defeat. However, I feel the organisers did not respect us. They had announced that, on the eve of the match, neither team would train on the stadium pitch, but Brazil trained on the field and we did not.”
There was accountability mixed with indignation, a duality that has long defined resilient dressing rooms. Thiaw congratulated Brazil and acknowledged the superiority on the day, but also defended his group’s right to equal preparation conditions. He will want the conversation around Kenya to be about football, not logistics, and that sets a sharper edge for Antalya.
Ibrahim Mbaye steps into the light
Every cycle has its moment when a youngster steps forward and asks for more. For Senegal in November, that moment belonged to Ibrahim Mbaye. The 17-year-old Paris Saint-Germain winger entered in the 71st minute against Brazil, showed assurance and energy, and left his coach impressed with his attitude as much as his talent.
“He is a talent we all recognise. He has a clear project with us, he is delighted to be integrated, and that is what matters.”
Mbaye’s club season has already been busy. The French-born forward has made 15 appearances for PSG, with seven starts across league and Champions League, including the 2-1 win against Barcelona in October. He has not yet registered a goal or assist this term, a detail that will motivate him if given more minutes against Kenya. For opponents, his directness off the right and appetite to run at defenders can be unsettling if they are not tuned in from the first whistle.
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Iliman Ndiaye finds his voice
At the other end of the age spectrum, Iliman Ndiaye has become a pillar for club and country. The Everton forward spoke with refreshing clarity about his growth, crediting relentless work and the daily standards around him in the Senegal camp. He called the environment a catalyst for his evolution and a platform that helped him, in his words, explode.
“It’s all about hard work, I work every day to improve mentally and technically, I try to be the best version of myself on the field, I’m happy with my progress.”
His club form supports the sentiment. In the Premier League this season, Ndiaye has four goals and an assist, a return that reflects rhythm and responsibility at Goodison Park. More importantly for Senegal, he underlined how much he values the call-up and how fully he intends to pour himself into the shirt when summoned.
“Every time the coach calls me, I’m happy and motivated to give everything for the country, I want to bring everything I can to help the team go as far as possible.”
Leadership and the senior core
There is a youthful layer to this Senegal squad, but it rests on a seasoned core. Kenya know that, which is why their focus will naturally fall on Sadio Mane, Iliman Ndiaye, Idrissa Gueye and Kalidou Koulibaly among others. Thiaw has already hinted at the importance of Mane’s leadership and experience within a younger group, an influence that can tilt a tight friendly.
Blending generations is a hallmark of strong national teams. The veterans bring decision making, calm and know-how, while players like Mbaye bring spark. Against Kenya, that blend must show from the outset, especially given how the Brazil tie turned on early moments. A strong start, cleaner transitions, and a sharper edge in the final third will be the internal checklist.
How Kenya may test Senegal
Benni McCarthy’s side arrives with its own edges and ambitions. They are fresh from a narrow loss to Equatorial Guinea, part of a busy stretch that even caught the Harambee Stars staff off guard with scheduling surprises. Kenya will see this as a measuring stick and a chance to accelerate their learning against a top African unit in a neutral setting.
For Senegal, vigilance must be total, since friendly matches can swing on concentration. Thiaw’s message has been about readiness and correction, and this is where details matter. If the Lions clean up the start and bring control to midfield phases, their quality in wide areas and the box should carry weight. That sets a straightforward mandate in Antalya, control the controllables and trust the work.
Quotes that define the mood
Thiaw on the early goals conceded and the second-half response framed the performance honestly, a harsh start followed by a rally. His insistence that losing to Brazil does not break rhythm speaks to a squad still confident in its arc. He has talked about learning, testing against the strongest, and going forward with clarity. From the players, Ndiaye’s vow to give everything for the country, and Mbaye’s immediate buy-in to the project, add to the sense of purpose.
“We will correct the mistakes from today and go into that game ready.”
What to watch in Antalya
- the start and intensity, does Senegal impose itself early after the Brazil wake-up,
- the wings and youth, does Ibrahim Mbaye get extended minutes and drive at Kenya,
- the heartbeat and leadership, does Sadio Mane’s influence and Iliman Ndiaye’s form steer the attack.
Why this friendly matters
Thiaw called Brazil a prestigious opponent and the kind of test that reveals both flaws and strengths. Kenya represents the next step, a chance to apply those lessons in a setting that will ask different questions. Friendlies are not judged on trophies, they are judged on direction, and direction is what Senegal will aim to prove in Antalya.
There is also the matter of restoring rhythm after the unbeaten run ended. Streaks are nice, but how a team responds to the first crack often says more. Senegal’s response begins here, on a field far from home, against an opponent eager to claim a scalp. The margins will be small, which is why attention to detail, from warm-up to final whistle, is the story behind the story.
Final word
Senegal arrive in Antalya sharp with motivation, armed with lessons and pricked by pride. Kenya arrive with desire and a capable coach, keen to see how their pieces fit under pressure. Between them sits a friendly that promises honest answers. If Thiaw’s words are any guide, the Teranga Lions will keep the good things, correct the mistakes, and go forward. That is the essence of November football, learning in real time so that when the stakes rise, a team already knows who it is.
For the neutral, that makes Tuesday compelling. For Senegal, it is an exercise in execution, led by veterans, energized by youth, and measured against an opponent that will not stand aside. For Kenya, it is a chance to press, to probe, and to return home with evidence of progress. In short, it is exactly what a top-tier friendly should be, a window into the future, with the present still very much at stake.
