FACTBOX-Profile of Senegal squad for African Nations Cup

African Nations Cup record

Previous appearances in finals: (13) 1965, 1968, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2015.

Best performance: Runners-up 2002

Drawn in Group B with Algeria, Tunisia and Zimbabwe.

- - -

Coach: Aliou Cisse

The former captain of the Senegal side is the youngest coach at the tournament, aged just 40.

He captained Senegal at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, where they beat holders France in the opening game and reached the quarter-finals.

His club career took in spells at Lille and Paris St Germain before playing in the English Premier League with Birmingham City and Portsmouth, as well as earning 35 caps for the Senegal national team.

He coached Senegal's under-23 team at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and then took over the senior side at the last Nations Cup finals.

- - -

Key player: Sadio Mane. Age: 24. Winger.

Finished in third place last week in the poll for the 2016 African Footballer of the Year.

He was bought by Liverpool from Southampton at the beginning of the season for £34 million ($41.61 million), making him the most expensive African footballer.

Made his international debut four years ago and has 10 goals in 38 appearances, including representing Senegal at the 2012 Olympics and 2015 Nations Cup.

- - -

FIFA world ranking Dec. 2016: 33

How they qualified: Top place in Group K, ahead of Burundi, Namibia and Niger.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Abdoulaye Diallo (Caykur Rizespor,), Khadim Ndiaye (Horoya), Pape Seydou Ndiaye (Niarry Tally)

Defenders: Saliou Ciss (Valenciennes), Lamine Gassama (Alanyspor), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Cheikh Mbengue (St Etienne), Kara Mbodj (Anderlecht), Zargo Toure (Lorient)

Midfielders: Mohamed Diame (Newcastle United), Pape Kouly Diop (Espanyol), Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton), Cheikhou Kouyate (West Ham United), Pape Alioune Ndiaye (Osmanlispor), Cheikh Ndoye (Angers), Ismaila Sarr (Metz)

Forwards: Famara Diedhou (Angers), Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke City), Diao Balde Keita (Lazio), Moussa Konate (Sion), Sadio Mane (Liverpool), Henri Saivet (St Etienne), Moussa Sow (Fenerbahce)

($1 = 0.8171 pounds) (Compiled by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Steve Tongue)