Republic of Ireland welcome Senegal for the first-ever international match between the two nations as Senegal become the first African team to visit the Aviva Stadium. 

Ireland go into the international friendly on Friday, June 6, with kick-off at 7.45pm, looking for their third win on the bounce following the two wins over Bulgaria in the UEFA Nations League play-offs in March. 

This is the final home match before the start of the FIFA 26 World Cup qualifying campaign begins at home to Hungary in September as Heimir Hallgrímsson looks to use the two June friendlies, against Senegal and Luxembourg, to prepare for the qualification stage. 

Match Details

Fixture: Republic of Ireland v Senegal
Date: Friday, June 6
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Location: Aviva Stadium
Competition: International Friendly
TV: RTE
Tickets: Available here

Match Officials

Referee: Adam Ladebäck (SWE)
Assistant Referee 1: Niklas Nyberg (SWE)
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel Yng (SWE)
Fourth Official: Oscar Johnson (SWE)

Team News

Striker Troy Parrott is hoping to recover from a mild illness to be fit for the match against Senegal with the AZ Alkmaar striker the only fitness concern ahead of the fixture. 

Press Conference | Head Coach Heimir Hallgrímsson

“If you look at their matches and how they play, massive physicality, I’d say not only speed but running power, they come at you again and again, so we will be tested defensively, massively, in this game if they play like they have done, in their last 22 games they haven’t lost, amazing for a national team to play 22 games without losing.

"They are a massive team, first goal is important and that’s another aspect of the game when we play them, and individual qualities, similar to Portugal, all players can hurt you so one-v-ones will be massively important.

“Everything happens a little bit quicker, when we need to defend and that’s a good step, if we are ready for that, it’s a good preparation for Hungary and Portugal. The preparation is mixed with what is going to happen in September. We started the camp by talking about what is coming up, and why it is important to play games like Senegal.

“And what can we take from these games to transfer to the games in September. It is important that we have more than 11 players ready to play and knowing everything about how we want to play."

Press Conference | Midfielder Robbie Brady

"No, it's all right. I had a couple of weeks break after the season. I kept myself ticking over with these games coming, and now I'm feeling good, and I'll enjoy a break when it's finished."

On his FAI Player of the Year award: "Yeah, obviously, I think this one might even mean a little bit more to me. Obviously, 2016 I was a lot younger and playing really well at the time. Not that I expected to win it then because we had a really good team, but I felt like I was in really good form. But to come back now after a little bit of time out, and like I said, the group has helped me, the staff have helped me to get back to a level now where I feel comfortable, I feel like I'm playing some good football at the minute, and I'm really enjoying it. So, yeah, means a lot to me."

Opta Facts - Republic of Ireland v Senegal 

- This will be Republic of Ireland’s first ever meeting with Senegal, and their first match against an African opponent since beating Algeria 3-0 in a May 2010 friendly under Giovanni Trapattoni.
- Senegal have won just one of their last six matches against European opposition (D2 L3), beating Poland 2-1 at the 2018 World Cup. Their most recent such game was a 3-0 loss to England at the 2022 World Cup.
- Republic of Ireland have won their last two matches, last winning three in a row in November 2016 under Martin O’Neill. The Boys in Green haven’t won their first three matches of a calendar year since 2007. 
- Senegal are unbeaten in each of their last 20 matches across all competitions (W15 D5), since a 1-0 defeat to Algeria in September 2023.
- Republic of Ireland have only lost two of their last 14 home friendly matches (W8 D4), most recently beating Hungary in June 2024. Their next home win will be their 150th across all competitions.
- Senegal have kept a clean sheet in each of their last seven games in all competitions, going 630 minutes without conceding since Ousseni Bouda netted against them for Burkina Faso in September 2024. 
- Evan Ferguson has scored five goals in 20 appearances for Republic of Ireland, with only Robbie Keane (7) and David Connolly (6) netting more for the Boys in Green before turning 21. Four of his five goals for the nation have come at the Aviva Stadium. 
- Nicolas Jackson has scored just once in 19 appearances for Senegal since making his debut in November 2022, netting against Malawi in October 2024.

Republic of Ireland Squad - Senegal & Luxembourg

Goalkeepers: Caoimhín Kelleher (Liverpool), Max O'Leary (Bristol City), Josh Keeley (Tottenham Hotspur)

Defenders: Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Dara O'Shea (Ipswich Town), Jake O'Brien (Everton), Andrew Omobamidele (Nottingham Forest), Liam Scales (Celtic), Robbie Brady (Preston North End), Josh Honohan (Shamrock Rovers)

Midfielders: Jason Knight (Bristol City), Killian Phillips (St. Mirren), Will Smallbone (Southampton), Jack Taylor (Ipswich Town), John Joe Patrick Finn (Stade De Reims), Andrew Moran (Brighton and Hove Albion)

Forwards: Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar), Evan Ferguson (Brighton and Hove Albion), Adam Idah (Celtic), Kasey McAteer (Leicester City), Festy Ebosele (Istanbul Basaksehir), Ryan Manning (Southampton)

Fixture Details

Republic of Ireland v Senegal | International Friendly | Friday, June 6 | Aviva Stadium | 7.45pm
Luxembourg v Republic of Ireland | International Friendly | Tuesday, June 10 | Stade De Luxembourg | 7.45pm (Irish Time)