Senegal World Cup profile: Guide to squad, record, path to final, manager, latest odds, team news and star man

IT'S 16 years since Senegal burst on to the world scene with a stunning win over holders France on their way to the last eight in their first ever World Cup.

This is their only appearance since then and they will be hoping to impress in a tough group containing Colombia, Japan and Poland.

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Here's all you need to know...

In a nutshell: Back for only their second ever appearance, Senegal famously made it to the quarter-finals in their debut in 2002, narrowly losing to Turkey after extra-time.

They qualified as winners of African Group D this time, finishing ahead of Burkina Faso.

Flag: Green, yellow and red with a green star in the centre, the flag has been in use since the country gained independence from France in 1980.

Population: 15.41 million

Nickname: Les Lions de la Teranga, or the Lions of Teranga. Not to be confused with Millwall FC.

World Cup news

DUPE-TASTIC

Boohoo is selling dupe of House of CB's iconic dress for £150 less

BERRY GOOD

Gardeners are snapping up fruit trees for £2 & it’ll give you months of berries

TOT DEATH

Grandparents 'left boy, 2, so neglected he looked like 90-year-old before murder'

Baller League

Who is playing in huge Legends vs Creators match?

Manager: Birmingham City and Portsmouth fans will recognise the name (and face) of Aliou Cisse. Now the head coach of Senegal, Cisse was also the captain of the national side during their successful debut in the World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea.

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Captain: West Ham’s brick outhouse midfielder, the bulldozing Cheikhou Kouyate.

Star Man: Only one man here. No, not Stoke City’s Mame Biram Diouf but Liverpool’s prolific striker Sadio Mane.

Rising Star: Young Monaco midfielder Keita Balde has been tipped for greatness for a few years now. Will this be the tournament where he makes the next great leap forward?

Most caps: Still going strong at 40, it’s Henri Camara with 99 caps.

All-time top scorer: Camara again, with 29 goals.

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Nice kit? Yes, but not for the fuller-figured gentleman. Think white and tight.

Most offensive haircut? Has Sadio Mane’s remarkable hairline bothered you too? Just us then…

Any names we can laugh at like kids? In a squad of excellent, exotic names, we expect Mamadou Barry, or "Bazza" to make a name for
himself in Russia.

Rivals? Their West African neighbours, Ivory Coast. We say "neighbours", but they are about 600 miles away.

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National anthem: The quite brilliantly-titled Pincez tous vos koras, frappez les balafons, or ‘Everyone strum your koras, strike the balafons’.

Sample lyric:
Young and old, men and women.
Death, yes!
We say death, but not shame.

National dish: Thiebou Jenn may sound like a striker who Harry Redknapp once had on loan but it’s actually a traditional Senegalese spicy stew of fish and rice.

National drink: Jus be Bissap is made from the dried flowers of the hibiscus plant. It’s nicer than it sounds.

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World Cup Finals Record: P5 W2 D2 L1 F7 A6

World Cup Win Ratio: 40%

Best World Cup Performance: They reached the quarter-finals in their one and only appearance in the Finals in 2002.

Fifa World Ranking: 27

Path to final: With the talent they have on offer, Senegal are well capable of winning Group H.

Whether they qualify as winners or runners-up, they are likely to face one of England and Belgium in the last 16.

Germany then await if they win the group with Brazil the probable quarter-final opponents if they finish second.

Winning the group would also probably see the Senegalese face Argentina in the semi-finals, while a repeat of their famous 1-0 victory over France in 2002 could be on the cards if they finish second.