Republic of Ireland 1-1 Senegal (result)
Kasey McAteer's first international goal gives Republic of Ireland lead
Ismaila Sarr equalises for Senegal with eight minutes left
Republic of Ireland play Luxembourg away in friendly on Tuesday
Republic of Ireland v Senegal (19:45 BST)
Republic of Ireland: Kelleher, Doherty, Collins, O'Shea, Brady, Knight, Taylor, Smallbone, McAteer, Manning, Idah.
Senegal: Diouf, Camara Mamadou, Seck, Diarra, Dia, Ndiaye, Jakobs, Diatta, Sima, Diallo, Mendy.
Republic of Ireland v Senegal (19:45 BST)
Kick-off is fast approaching but first, it's time for the anthems.
Republic of Ireland v Senegal (19:45 BST)
Dietmar Hamann
Former Liverpool midfielder on RTE 2
I find it surprising that Evan Ferguson doesn't start. What this player needs is confidence and you give him that by giving him a go.
Republic of Ireland v Senegal (19:45 BST)
It's a big night for Matt Doherty, who makes his 50th appearance for the Republic of Ireland tonight.
Image source, Getty ImagesRepublic of Ireland v Senegal (19:45 BST)
Dietmar Hamann
Former Liverpool midfielder on MOTD2 Extra
Senegal are a very physical side and very experienced.
The Republic of Ireland have to be at their best tonight to get a result and it would be huge for confidence.
Republic of Ireland v Senegal (19:45 BST)
Nicola McCarthy
BBC Sport NI at the Aviva Stadium
The two teams are out warming up on a very impressive looking pitch here at the Aviva Stadium.
An historic night in Dublin - the first ever fixture between the two sides and the first African team to play here at the Aviva.
This is the final home match before the start of the FIFA 26 World Cup qualifying campaign begins at home to Hungary in September.
Republic of Ireland boss Heimir HallgrÃmsson has pointed out Senegal’s physicality and that looks evident from where I am sitting. Can his side end Senegal’s massively impressive unbeaten run?!
Republic of Ireland v Senegal (19:45 BST)
Shay Given
Former Manchester City goalkeeper on RTE Two
These two friendlies are key ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in September. Hungary is the first game at home then and it feels like a cup final already.
These two games are an opportunity for players to show that they should start that Hungary game.
Republic of Ireland v Senegal (19:45 BST)
Image source, Getty ImagesRepublic of Ireland assistant John O'Shea believes Caoimhin Kelleher's move to Brentford "will benefit" Heimir Hallgrimsson's side.
Kelleher's move from Premier League champions Liverpool to the Bees on a five-year deal for an initial £12.5m, which could rise to £18m with add-ons, was confirmed on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old made 67 appearances for the Reds, but O'Shea believes becoming the number one at Brentford will aid his progress on the international stage.
"He has had success and whatever happens next, hopefully he's playing. It's as simple as that," O'Shea said.
"Obviously it's not an easy thing for him to do. He's proven the quality that he has every time he's been asked to go in as the number one for Liverpool.
"I think that's what the whole of Europe and the whole of the world has seen when Caoimhin has been in goal for Liverpool. So, I'm sure we'll get the benefit of it."
Republic of Ireland v Senegal (19:45 BST)
There are six changes to the starting XI who began the second leg of the play-off with Ryan Manning, Dara O'Shea, Will Smallbone and Adam Idah coming into the side and starting alongside debutants Kasey McAteer and Jack Taylor.
Jake O'Brien, Troy Parrott and Evan Ferguson drop to the bench with Mikey Johnston, Josh Cullen and Fin Azaz not in the squad.
Pape Bouna Thiaw makes nine switches to the side who defeated Togo by 2-0 in their World Cup qualification campaign.
RS Berkane's Lamine Camara Mamadou and captain Abdou Diallo are the only two who remain in the line-up.
Republic of Ireland: Kelleher, Doherty, Collins, O'Shea, Brady, Knight, Taylor, Smallbone, McAteer, Manning, Idah.
Subs: O'Leary, Keeley, O'Brien, Parrott, Ferguson, Omobamidele, Moran, Scales, Ebosele, Honohan, Patrick, Philips.
Senegal: Diouf, Camara Mamadou, Seck, Diarra, Dia, Ndiaye, Jakobs, Diatta, Sima, Diallo, Mendy.
Subs: E Mendy, Diaw, Koulibaly, I.G Gueye, Jackson, Camara, Sabaly, C Ndiaye, Niasse, I Sarr, Guete, E Diouf, P Gueye.
Republic of Ireland v Senegal
Republic of Ireland v Senegal (19:45 BST)
Hello and welcome to our coverage of tonight's international friendly between the Republic of Ireland and Senegal at the Aviva Stadium.
The home side will be looking to build on two positive performances against Bulgaria in the relegation/promotion play-off when the Republic of Ireland secured their spot in League B ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in September.
Tonight's visitors Senegal are unbeaten in their last 20 games and will be looking to extend that run as they travel to the Aviva for the first time.
Thanks for ing us.
After making three big saves, Caoimhin Kelleher was finally beaten when Ismaila Sarr netted with nine minutes to play
Substitute Ismaila Sarr equalised with nine minutes to play as Senegal drew 1-1 with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.
Kasey McAteer, on his first Irish start, scored the opener in the 21st minute as the hosts took a deserved lead against a Senegal side without key players Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly and Nicolas Jackson.
Ryan Manning's cross into the area was flicked on by captain Nathan Collins, and McAteer's initial header was kept out by a superb save from Yehvanne Diouf.
However, the Leicester City midfielder reacted quickest to bring the ball down, turn and fire the ball into the unguarded net.
New Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher produced a stunning, fingertip save to turn Krepin Diatta's header onto the crossbar, and was later called upon to push the ball off the line as Senegal pushed for an equaliser.
That came when Iliman Ndiaye's cross found Cherif Ndiaye, who forced Kelleher into another strong save but Sarr was alert to smash home the rebound in the 81st minute.
Senegal had the first sight of goal in Dublin when Diatta's corner came off the unsighted Dara O'Shea, who blew a sigh of relief as the ball rolled just the wrong side of the post.
Mamadou Camara and Will Smallbone exchanged wild, long-range efforts at either end before McAteer opened the scoring after reacting quickest when keeper Diouf saved his initial header.
It was a deserved lead for the Republic, and only the second goal that the African side had conceded in their last 741 minutes of football in all compeitions.
For a brief moment, it looked like the goal would burst the friendly into some form of life when McAteer's dangerous cross was cut out with Jack Taylor lurking.
However, that never came to fruition and the game became more and more low key as the half progressed, and a rare venture forward from Senegal led to Antoine Mendy's sliced effort in the only other attempt on goal in the opening 45 minutes.
Kasey McAteer scored his first international goal on his first start for the Republic of Ireland
The start of the second half was a more lively affair as Smallbone forced Diouf into another smart save, and Mendy put in a big challenge to deny Manning on the rebound just as the full-back looked like he would slot home.
Senegal looked a much more dangerous outfit after the restart and almost equalised when Ismail Jakob's cross was headed towards goal by Diatta, and Kelleher flew across goal to tip the ball onto the crossbar.
Kelleher was called into action again as Camara's shot from the edge of the area deflected onto the post off Jake O'Brien, and the 26-year-old had to scamper across his goal to push the ball off the line.
Moments later, Boulaye Dia's low effort was saved by Kelleher, who was by far the more busy of the two goalkeepers after the restart.
However, Kelleher's resolve was broken with nine minutes to play when he pulled off another superb save to keep out Ndiaye, but Crystal Palace's Sarr was on hand to fire home from close range.
Cheikh Sabaly headed narrowly wide as the visitors kept pressing, but a draw was probably a fair result as the Irish drew with a Senegal side whose unbeaten run has now stretched to 21 matches.
Manager Heimir Hallgrimsson handed a debut to St Mirren midfielder Killian Phillips in the second half, and his side are back in action on Tuesday away to Luxembourg while Senegal take on England.
Manager: Heimir HallgrÃmsson
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Pape Thiaw
Formation: 4 - 1 - 4 - 1
Manager: Heimir HallgrÃmsson
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Pape Thiaw
Formation: 4 - 1 - 4 - 1
Friendlies
All competitions
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.Â
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. Â
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. Â
Nicolas Jackson has scored just once in 19 appearances for Senegal since making his debut in November 2022, netting against Malawi in October 2024.
