Egypt 2006 - Team Profile: Senegal

Senegal shot into the international limelight in 2002 by becoming only the second African side to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

Six months earlier at the 2002 MTN Africa Cup of Nations finals they had been narrowly pipped to the title by Cameroon, losing on post-match penalteis in the final in Bamako.

The last five years have been the most productive for Senegalese football, finally delivering on the potential of the talent in their country.

Much of the current side are remnants of the heroes from the 2002 finals in Japan and South Korea where Senegal shocked defending champions France in the opening World Cup match and also beat Sweden on their way to the last eight.

The side have a long history of participation in the MTN Africa Cup of Nations but have never won the tournament. They were hosts in 1992 but were eliminated at the quarter-final stage.

The side is coached by Abdoulaye Sarr, brought into the job in mid-2005 after the Frenchman Guy Stephan was fired as Senegal lost ground in their 2006 World Cup qualifying group.

They did keep up the pressure on group leaders Togo right until the end of the campaign but too many points dropped early on means Senegal can now only use the forum of the MTN Africa Cup of Nations to attempt a return to the heroics of mid-2002.