The Lion or the Rooster? Still not called up to the Senegal national football team despite his clear desire to join the squad, Malang Sarr is now on the radar of the French Football Federation.
After a solid season in Ligue 1 with RC Lens, currently sitting second in the league, the central defender wants to make a leap onto the international stage with the country of his parents. “I said it was a goal a few months ago, and it remains the same. […] If the call comes, it will be a great joy for me,” the Nice native told L’Équipe in September 2025.
But so far, the Senegal call-up has not materialized. This situation could benefit the FFF. According to journalist Makhtar Dime, the French federation has started looking into his profile for upcoming gatherings. The idea? To strengthen an already solid defensive line featuring Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konaté, and William Saliba. Some see this as a way to secure the player’s international future under the blue jersey.
This strategy has sparked debates in the past, especially with cases like Boubacar Kamara and Maghnes Akliouche, often mentioned when discussing dual nationality and selection choices during Didier Deschamps’ era.
At 27, Malang Sarr is at a turning point. Long considered one of the great hopes of OGC Nice, his early move to Chelsea FC in 2020 stalled his momentum, with limited playing time and mixed loans to FC Porto and AS Monaco. Now settled at Lens, he seems to have finally found stability and consistency, reigniting the debate: Lion of Teranga or Blue Rooster?
A Pressure Play from Malang Sarr?
However, it’s wise to be cautious about this rumor surrounding Malang Sarr and the French Football Federation. In the French team, competition is already fierce in central defense, and there are plenty of credible candidates.
Some observers suggest this could be a positioning play. This information might be an indirect pressure tactic from the Sarr camp to speed up a decision from the Senegal national team. In this light, coach Pape Thiaw would do well to call him up during the international break in March to clarify his international future once and for all.
Senegal Still in Sight
Eligible to play for the Lions of Teranga, the defender trained at OGC Nice was not selected for the last Africa Cup of Nations. The competition in central defense is particularly dense, with key players like Kalidou Koulibaly, Moussa Niakhaté, Mamadou Sarr, and Abdoulaye Seck.
In the short term, Malang Sarr could aim to challenge Seck, who is now 33 years old, even though Seck has consistently delivered when called upon. The situation remains open, balancing strategic patience with a crucial career choice.
