El Hadji Malick Diouf Says Senegal Can Handle France and Reach Final
El hadji malick diouf said Senegal can handle France in the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener and go all the way to the final. He tied that confidence to the 1-0 win over France in 2002, when Senegal were debutants and stunned the group stage on their first day at the tournament.
Diouf spoke in Riyadh while attending the Capital Derby title showdown at Al Awwal Park. His comments came with France and Senegal set to meet in the opening match of Group I on Tuesday night at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Diouf on Senegal’s edge
“Yeah, definitely. We know it's going to be a big game because France is going to want to beat Senegal because it’s the first game and they want to take the lead [in the group].”
That was Diouf’s read on the opener, but he did not sound worried about the gap between the teams. “We have a big team, we have big players, we don't have to worry or to be scared about any teams. We just need to say to the people, ‘We are the African champion’.”
He pushed that further in the same interview. “We’re coming there for everyone to see what Senegal’s going to do. Why not to go to play the final of the World Cup? We show the world how good we are.”
Saudi Arabia’s Senegal core
Diouf also used the conversation to point to Senegal’s presence in Saudi Arabia. “We give them a lot of respect. These guys follow what we used to do. Myself, Salif Diao, [Kalilou] Fadiga, we’re so proud of them. Sadio, Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, all these Africans boys playing here in Saudi. I think today they’re the best representatives for Africa.”
He singled out Sadio Mane as well. “And Sadio is another level because when I look at him playing with the passion he give, the love he give for the country and for the continent, I'm thinking about myself and I'm very happy to be a part of him. I'm so proud to see people like Sadio follow my way.”
That praise lands with extra weight because Senegal could have up to four Roshn Saudi League players in the 2026 opener. Edouard Mendy plays for Al Ahli, Kalidou Koulibaly for Al Hilal and Sadio Mane for Al Nassr, while Theo Hernandez is expected to line up for France.
France, Senegal and 2002
The France matchup carries the same opponent that Senegal beat 1-0 in the opening match of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, their debut tournament. Papa Bouba Diop scored that goal, and Diouf’s current comments lean on that memory without trying to turn it into nostalgia.
For Senegal, the practical takeaway is clear: the squad enters the 2026 tournament with a former international publicly backing it to challenge France immediately and to think beyond the opener. For France, the first test is a Senegal side that Diouf says has the size, players and belief to play into the final.
