"I think that from one World Cup to the next, Africa is moving forward and progressing. It was Morocco that reached the semi-finals in the last edition in Qatar," Giresse said. "With ten qualified countries, the possibility of taking even more nations to the semi-finals exists. We have to take it one step at a time."

The former coach was unequivocal about Senegal's ceiling: "If we're talking about Senegal, it has the potential to at least reach the semi-finals. Of course, we know there can be unforeseen events during matches, but intrinsically, the potential is there. We see that African teams are increasingly displaying a level that is approaching the top and the best rankings in the world."

Giresse also offered a broader vision for African football, stating that he believes an African country will one day compete in a World Cup final.

Senegal's path at FIFA World Cup 2026

Senegal are drawn in Group I alongside France, Norway, and Iraq — a challenging opening that will test the Teranga Lions from the outset. Their first fixture is against France, before subsequent meetings with Norway and Iraq.

Senegal's most celebrated World Cup campaign remains their debut in 2002, when they stormed to the quarter-finals — a result that equalled the record for the best-ever finish by an African nation at a World Cup. Should they go one better and reach the semi-finals in 2026, it would surpass Morocco's landmark achievement in Qatar.