Senegal Squad For AFCON Confirmed: Sadio Mane Joined By Six EPL Players Including Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson

Senegal's squad for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations was confirmed on Friday.

The reigning champions will be captained by Al Nassr forward Sadio Mane.

Meanwhile, Senegal's AFCON 2023 squad includes six players currently based in the Premier League.

Those six players are Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, Fulham defender Fode Ballo-Toure, Tottenham midfielder Pape Matar Sarr, Everton anchor man Idrissa Gueye and Nottingham Forest duo Moussa Niakhate and Cheikhou Kouyate.

If Senegal reach the AFCON final then these players will miss four rounds of Premier League fixtures.

Sadio Mane pictured celebrating after scoring the winning penalty in Senegal's shootout win over Egypt in the final of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations

IMAGO/Sebastian Frej

AFCON 2023 is actually taking place in 2024, despite its name.

The tournament will start on January 13 and finish on February 11.

Senegal will compete in Group C alongside Cameroon, Guinea and Gambia.

The group stage will conclude on January 24.

Senegal selected 27 players after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently increased the maximum AFCON squad size from 23.

Senegal's 27-man squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.

Senegal Squad For AFCON 2023
Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (Al-Ahli), Mory Diaw (Clermont), Seny Dieng (Middlesbrough).
Defenders: Youssouf Sabaly (Real Betis), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal), Moussa Niakhate (Nottingham Forest), Abdou Diallo (Al Arabi), Formose Mendy (Lorient), Abdoulaye Ndiaye (Troyes), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa), Fode Ballo-Toure (Fulham), Ismail Jakobs (Monaco).
Midfielders: Lamine Camara (Metz), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham), Krepin Diatta (Monaco), Cheikhou Kouyate (Nottingham Forest), Pape Gueye (Marseille), Nampalys Mendy (Lens), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano) Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton).
Forwards: Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea), Abdallah Sima (Rangers), Boulaye Dia (Salernitana), Sadio Mane (Al Nassr), Habib Diallo (Al-Shabab), Iliman Ndiaye (Marseille), Ismaila Sarr (Marseille).