![[Analysis] Patrick Vieira's two tactical moves against Comoros](https://image.seneweb.com/content/news/2026-41-05//thumb_1260x800_6ac39b51f3992_WmAMV4VtvO.jpg)
[Analyse] Les deux coups tactiques de Patrick Vieira face aux Comores
Against Comoros, Senegal displayed an attractive style of play. Having struggled and looked sluggish against Mozambique and Ethiopia, the Lions were this time mobile and inspired.
If Senegal found patterns and solutions in possession, it was partly thanks to the performances of Idrissa Gana Gueye and Bara Sapoko Ndiaye, who were available and focused. But the difference was made in attack. By starting three wingers (Ibrahim Mbaye, Iliman Ndiaye, and Issa Soumaré) without a true center forward, Patrick Vieira opted for flexibility. Throughout the match, the three players frequently switched positions. Iliman Ndiaye, who started on the right, moved to the left after a few minutes, as did Ibrahim Mbaye, who came onto the right after starting on the left. Issa Soumaré, positioned centrally, roamed across the different attacking positions. This pattern was repeated throughout their time on the pitch.
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With their movement, runs, and positional shifts, the Senegalese forwards routed the Comorian defense. These movements also allowed the rest of the team to connect more easily with the attackers, consistently finding passing options, whether supporting or making through balls. This varied style of play is inspired by PSG, two-time winners of the UEFA Champions League. Indeed, Luis Enrique deploys his team with three wingers in attack, notably Ousmane Dembélé as a false nine.
This new Senegalese formation against Comoros shows that Patrick Vieira has learned from his tactical setup, which many observers considered a failure against Ethiopia. Indeed, they have moved from a system with two wingers hugging the touchline against Ethiopia (Abdallah Sima on the left and Assane Diao on the right) to three mobile forwards positioned in the half-spaces.
Against Comoros, Senegal only managed one goal, but they created plenty of chances. With every attack, the Lions seemed to be causing problems for the Comorian defense. With more clinical finishing, the Coelacanths could have suffered a much heavier defeat.
Nobel Mendy's dual role
The other change in Patrick Vieira's tactics was the way the defensive flanks were used. While Lamine Sy often drifted down the wing to cover for Iliman Ndiaye's central runs, Nobel Mendy played a more hybrid role. He sometimes positioned himself as a third center-back at the start of attacks (see image 1), before making forward runs to support the attacks once the ball crossed the halfway line. This role allowed him to leave the left flank to Ibrahim Mbaye during the build-up phases (see image 2), and then to fully occupy the left flank like a modern full-back once the Aston Villa winger cut inside. Several top clubs utilize this role. At FC Barcelona, the right-back (Jules Koundé or Eric Garcia) alternates between center-back and full-back positions during the same match, depending on the situation.
Against Ethiopia, Vieira hadn't given his third center-back/full-back as much freedom. Sadibou Sané, on the right during the match, barely participated in the Lions' attacks. On the left against the Ethiopians, the Franco-Senegalese coach had opted for a more advanced Malick Diouf, positioned further up the pitch, but less on the flank, alongside Sima. On both sides that day, this choice made the wide players less incisive. Neither Sadibou Sané, nor Abdallah Sima, nor Malick Diouf, and certainly not Assane Diao, had made their mark. Patrick Vieira rectified this on Sunday.
Against Comoros, the team's dynamic style of play created several systems as the game unfolded, making Senegal's play more unpredictable. This hybrid and flexible formation also gave the Lions' three midfielders considerable freedom, facilitating combinations and forward runs. In the first half alone, Pape Matar Sarr, Bara Ndiaye, and Idrissa Gana Gueye each had a scoring opportunity.
It remains to be seen whether Patrick Vieira will persist with the same system, especially against tougher teams.
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