Republic of Ireland vs Senegal predictions: Entertaining evening in Dublin expected
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- This is the first-ever meeting between Ireland and Senegal
- Senegal take on England in another friendly on Tuesday
- Recommended bet: Draw
Republic of Ireland host Senegal in a friendly on Friday in what is the first ever meeting between the two nations.
Ireland should be on a high after impressive back-to-back 2-1 home and away wins over Bulgaria in March in their Nations League relegation play-off, which confirmed their place in League B.
Senegal, meanwhile, are in the middle of their World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign and sit well placed in second in a six-team section behind DR Congo with four games still to play.
The Lions of Teranga are in great form, unbeaten in their last 12 outings, winning nine, and they face England in another friendly in Nottingham on Tuesday.
Team news
Experienced defender Seamus Coleman and striker Sammie Szmodics both pulled out of the Ireland squad for this game and the following friendly on Tuesday against Luxembourg due to injury.
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There are first senior call-ups for Shamrock Rovers defender Josh Honohan, Reims midfielder John Patrick, Leyton Orient goalkeeper Josh Keeley and Killian Phillips, who has impressed on loan at St. Mirren this season from Crystal Palace.
Leicester winger Kasey McAteer, centre-back Andrew Omobamidele, who has impressed with his performances in Ligue 1 this season, as well as Istanbul Basaksehir forward Festy Ebosele, who has recently returned to full fitness for Turkish Super Lig side, also return to the international fold.
Hallgrimsson has, however, left out the vast majority of the Championship-based players who could have been selected to aid rest and recovery, with this game coming so soon after the end of the club season.
There is no Sadio Mane for Senegal after the former Liverpool forward asked to be excused for this friendly and the one that follows against England.
Boss Pape Thiaw has named midfielder Mamadou Lamine Camara in his squad for the first time after he helped Moroccan side Renaissance Berkane win the African Confederation Cup on Sunday.
Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson and Everton's Iliman Ndiaye are among several key players who are back in the Senegal squad.
The stats
Senegal's last defeat came in January 2024 when they lost on penalties to Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Former Senegal striker Thiaw has won five of his six matches since taking over as manager back in October last year, initially as caretaker, although he has since been handed the job full-time.
Ireland have won four times and lost four times under Hallgrimsson following his appointment in July 2024.
Both teams have scored in Ireland's last two games.
Prediction
In a first-ever meeting between the sides, this should be a competitive friendly as both teams will be using this Dublin clash as preparation for more important games coming up.
Ireland are getting ready to start their bid to qualify for next year's World Cup in a tough group containing Hungary and Portugal, while Senegal resume their qualification for the tournament in USA, Mexico and Canada when they face Sudan in September.
The visitors are in fine form but are without the experienced Mane, so the Irish might just fancy their chances of earning at least a draw, even though Senegal still have plenty of well-known Premier League talent in their squad like Chelsea striker Jackson and Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr.
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