The Senegal national football team, nicknamed the Lions of Teranga, is the national team of Senegal and is controlled by the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football . It made its first World Cup in 2002 and made quite a splash, defeating world and european champions France 1-0 in the tournament's opening game.

Especially notable about this result was the appearance of Patrick Vieira, widely considered to be the best player Senegal had ever produced, playing for the opposition; this was due to France being a former colonial power in the country. Senegal went on to make the quarterfinals, only the second African team to do so, before losing to Turkey.

Senegal's best finish in the African Nations Cup came in 2002, when they lost in the finals on penalties after tying Cameroon 0-0.

World Cup record

• 1930 to 1962 - Did not enter
• 1966 - Withdrew
• 1970 to 1986 - Did not qualify
• 1990 - Did not enter
• 1994 - Did not qualify
• 1998 - Did not qualify
• 2002 - Quarterfinals

African Nations Cup record

• 1957 to 1963 - Did not enter
• 1965 - Fourth place
• 1968 - Round 1
• 1970 to 1978 - Did not qualify
• 1980 - Did not enter
• 1982 - Did not qualify
• 1984 - Did not qualify
• 1986 - Round 1
• 1988 - Did not qualify
• 1990 - Fourth place
• 1992 - Quarterfinals
• 1994 - Quarterfinals
• 1996 - Did not qualify
• 1998 - Did not qualify
• 2000 - Quarterfinals
• 2002 - Second place
• 2004 - Quarterfinals

Famous players

• Papa Bouba Diop
• Mamadou Diallo
• El Hadji Diouf

External links

• RSSSF archive of results 1961-