Senegal vs Kenya: 3 French-Born Youngsters Set to Be Unleashed on Harambee Stars

As Harambee Stars prepare to take on Senegal in a friendly match in Turkey on Tuesday, there are three young players from the Senegalese camp they must watch out for.

While attention will be on the big names such as Sadio Mane, Ilman Ndiaye, Idrisa Gueye among others, coach Pape Thiaw has three new players who earned their first senior team call-ups for this month’s friendly matches against Brazil and Kenya.

The three already play for top teams in Europe and were born in France, giving them an edge when it came to their football education.

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Born on August 29, 2005 in Martigues, France, the central defender is on the books of Premier League giants Chelsea but currently on loan at French Ligue 1 side Strasbourg.

Sarr honed his skills at Etoile Sportive de Saint Laurent Blangy Feuchy in Arras, northern France, before soon joining RC Lens.

The family decided to return to the south of France though and Sarr moved to Lyon aged 12 and he flourished at the club through the youth ranks before making his senior debut aged 17 during the 2022-23 season.

He signed for Strasbourg the following season and after impressing in the 2024-25 campaign, Chelsea signed him but sent him on loan to the club where he has so far made 11 appearances this term and was named on the bench against Brazil.

At just 17, the Paris Saint-Germain right winger got his first taste of international football when he came on in the 71st minute against Brazil on Saturday.

Born in Trappes, France, Mbaye is already a key member of the PSG senior team as he has made 15 appearances for the French giants this season, including 10 in the league and three in the Champions League.

He has so far started seven games for the French giants, among them the 2-1 victory against Barcelona in the Champions League, in October.

Mbaye is, however, yet to score or provide an assist this term and could do it against Kenya as he will likely get more minutes.

Born in Besancon, France, the 23-year-old central midfielder received his first senior team call-up for the November friendly matches against Brazil and Kenya.

Rassoul Ndiaye was also an unused substitute against Brazil but the game against Kenya could see him get minutes in a Teranga Lions shirt and his key strengths include well-timed tackles as well as short passes aimed at putting his team on the front foot.

Ndiaye came through the ranks at Sochaux before he joined Le Havre in 2023 where he has been since. He is a key player for Le Havre where he has made 12 appearances so far this season and scored three goals.