Saudi Arabia and Senegal played out a 0-0 draw at Toyota Field in San Antonio, a friendly that offered more insight into squad depth than clear answers as Hervé Renard and Joseph Koto continued their World Cup preparations.
The first half produced little attacking threat. Pape Ciss collected a yellow card in the 15th minute for Senegal, and Mohammed Abu Al Shamat followed on 40 minutes as Saudi Arabia struggled to stitch possession together.
Renard overhauled his lineup at the interval. Moteb Al Harbi, Abdulelah Al Amri, Salem Al Dawsari, Nasser Al Dawsari, and Hassan Tambakti were replaced by Nawaf Boushal, Ali Lajami, Ayman Yahya, Mohamed Kanno, and J. Thakri, a five-player swap that disrupted what rhythm the hosts had established. Koto responded immediately after the restart by introducing Ismail Jakobs to push Senegal’s left flank higher.
A scrappy second half followed. Kanno’s 58th-minute booking summed up the untidy tempo before another Saudi flurry on 61 minutes saw Sultan Mandash, Khalid Al Ghannam, Ala Al Haji, and Abdullah Al Hamdan relieve Abu Al Shamat, Musab Al Juwayr, Abdullah Al Khaibari, and Feras Al Brikan. Hassan Kadesh came on for Saud Abdulhamid in the 71st minute to complete Renard’s outfield rotation.
Senegal made their own triple switch in the 62nd minute, sending on Ismaila Sarr, Nicolas Jackson, and Pape Matar Sarr to freshen the midfield and front line. Kalidou Koulibaly later replaced Mikayil Faye Sarr in the 82nd minute, moments before further changes brought on A. Mendy, I. Gueye, and I. Mbaye for Krepin Diatta, Lamine Camara, and Sadio Mané.
The closing stages were dominated by discipline. Jackson was cautioned in the 82nd minute, received a second yellow in the 84th, and was duly sent off, leaving Senegal to finish with ten men. B. Dieng entered for Ciss on 86 minutes, and Boushal’s booking at 90+4 was the final note in a match heavier on cards than chances.
Discipline: Saudi Arabia 3 yellow cards (Abu Al Shamat 40, Kanno 58, Boushal 90+4); Senegal 3 yellow cards plus 1 red (Ciss 15, Jackson 82 and 84 leading to a red card in the 84th minute).
The stalemate keeps selection questions open with the World Cup looming later this month, granting both staffs one more reference point before final tournament decisions.
