James Copnall BBC Sport Online

Senegal are going to put their status as one of Africa's best teams to the test.

After Sao Tome withdrew from Senegal's Nations Cup qualifying group, the Lions were left without a fixture until May.

But the Lions have moved quickly to organise friendlies against some of Africa's top teams.

On 12 October the Lions will host Ivory Coast in Dakar, and on 19 November it is the turn of South Africa to visit the Senegalese capital.

It will be the first ever meeting between Bafana Bafana and the Dakar Lions.

Bocande gets a testimonial

The games will give coaches Abdoulaye Sarr and Jules Bocande the opportunity to test out some new players.

Diouf's comeback?

Sarr told Senegalese daily Le Soleil that against Ivory Coast, "we will have all the World Cup players, plus some young faces."

The fixture could be the perfect opportunity for El Hadji Diouf to reconcile himself with the Senegalese public.

Few fans believed the 2001 African player of the year's explanations for his failure to play the Nations' Cup qualifier against Lesotho.

The Senegalese Football Federation also wants to put on a further friendly in Dakar in December.

The match would be a testimonial for former striker and current coach Jules Bocande.

As well as an international match, Bocande will captain a team of Senegalese veterans in a gala fixture.