Republic of Ireland vs Senegal predictions, odds and betting tips
THE REPUBLIC of Ireland will welcome Senegal to the Aviva Stadium on Friday night for the first of two friendlies ahead of this year's World Cup qualifiers.
Buoyed by back-to-back wins, the Boys in Green will be given a stern test by the in-form African giants, who haven't lost for well over a year.
Ireland vs Senegal tips
Senegal to win or draw and BTTS
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Ismaila Sarr to score anytime
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Troy Parrott to score anytime
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Ireland vs Senegal odds
Find the latest football betting odds for Ireland vs Senegal. Our odds are provided by the
Ireland vs Senegal predictions
The Republic of Ireland return to action on Friday night against an in-form Senegal side, as Heimir Hallgrimsson's men continue preparations for their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Ireland will be buoyed by back-to-back 2-1 wins over Bulgaria in their two most recent outings. The 4-2 aggregate win sealed their Nations League B survival and provided some much-needed momentum after a difficult few years.
Having failed to qualify for the last four major tournaments, Hallgrimsson will be under pressure to lead Ireland to the 2026 World Cup. He will have his work cut out, with the Boys in Green drawn in a tricky UEFA Group F alongside Portugal, Hungary and Armenia.
Since taking over in July 2024, the Icelandic coach has overseen a steady improvement, guiding Ireland to four wins in six since a shaky start. Now, he'll be hoping to extend that run of improved form with positive performances against Senegal and Luxembourg during this international window.
Hallgrimsson is likely to be without Seamus Coleman for the match - the skipper is still recovering from injury and is unlikely to be risked. The Irish head coach is also likely to experiment at some point with the uncapped John Joe Patrick Finn, Josh Keeley, Killian Phillips and Josh Honohan all included in the squad.
Senegal poses a significant threat. The Lions of Teranga are unbeaten in their last 14 matches. The run includes 10 wins and four draws and sees them firmly in the mix to qualify for the 2026 World Cup from CAF Group B, where they sit second in the table with 12 points from six matches.
Pape Thiaw's side don't have the services of Sadio Mane to call upon this Friday. But many Premier League fans will recognise Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson and Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr, who are likely to be a part of Senegal's front three.
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Ireland vs Senegal betting tips
Despite having the home comforts of the Aviva Stadium in their favour, Heimir Hallgrimsson's Ireland team are the underdogs. Find out if they can prove the bookies wrong in our Republic of Ireland vs Senegal match betting tips below:
Senegal to win or draw and BTTS
Unfortunately for Republic of Ireland fans, Senegal boast a strong squad with several members regularly playing at the highest level of European football, including the Premier League.
As a result, we don't see the visitors losing.
But, not all hope is lost. Given Ireland's improvement under Hallgrimsson, we can see at least a goal for the Boys in Green, and maybe even a draw.
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Ismaila Sarr to score anytime
Ismaila Sarr finished his club season on a massive high with Crystal Palace.
As well as lifting the FA Cup at Wembley, Sarr also scored twice in Palace's 3-0 semi-final win over Aston Villa.
In the Premier League, Sarr was just as impressive. He contributed two assists and a final-day goal against Liverpool in his last three league appearances for the Eagles.
There are options in this market for Senegal. Sarr's Premier League counterpart, Nicolas Jackson also finished the season well with Chelsea, scoring in his team's 4-1 win over Real Betis in the Europa Conference League final. Jackson is 27/10 to score anytime.
We are sticking with Sarr, though, as we believe he is the player in better form and more likely to replicate it on the international stage.
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Troy Parrott to score anytime
Troy Parrott has enjoyed an excellent season with AZ Alkmaar, scoring an impressive 20 goals in 47 appearances across all competitions for the Dutch side.
While the former Spurs striker has yet to replicate that form on the international stage, this could be the perfect moment for Parrott to make his mark in a green shirt.
Heimir Hallgrimsson will be well aware that goals from Parrott could prove crucial in Ireland's push for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. So expect the manager to play to his striker's strengths in a bid to unlock his full potential at international level.
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📺 How to watch Republic of Ireland vs Senegal
Location
: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Ireland.
Date and time
: Friday 6th June, 7.45pm.
How to watch
: RTE2, RTE Player and Amazon Prime Video.
About the author
Craig Mahood
Craig Mahood is an expert in sports betting and online casinos and has worked with the company since 2020. He joined the Betting & Gaming team at The Sun in June 2022 and works closely with the leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to provide content on all areas of sports betting and gaming. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter at the Scottish Sun, covering Scottish football with particular focus on Celtic and Rangers, As well as football, he has covered horse racing, boxing, darts, the Olympics and tennis for the Sun.
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