Ismail Jakobs

Ismail Jakobs offers Senegal experienced cover at left-back and is a likely squad rotation option. Born in Cologne to a Senegalese-French father and German mother, he came through 1. FC Köln and won the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship with Germany before switching his international allegiance to Senegal in 2022. He played all four of Senegal's matches at the 2022 World Cup. After four seasons at Monaco, he joined Galatasaray — initially on loan in 2024, then permanently in 2025 — and has won back-to-back Süper Lig titles (2024-25 and 2025-26). A solid, athletic full-back with attacking instincts, he has 29 caps for the Lions. With El Hadji Malick Diouf ahead of him in the pecking order, Jakobs did not start against France on 16 June 2026, but his tournament pedigree and title-winning form make him a valued member of Pape Thiaw's 26-man World Cup squad and a ready replacement if needed.