By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Senegal’s Head Coach Aliou Cisse has not hidden his intentions to win the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) again as he has listed a strong squad comprising mostly of Europe-based professional players in Senegal final team for Cameroon 2021.
English Premier League stars Sadio Mane (Liverpool), goalkeeper Edouard Mendy (Chelsea), Cheickhou Kouyate (Crystal Palace) and Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City) headlines the squad list.
This is even as Napoli defender, Kalidou Koulibaly and Watford forward Ismaila Sarr have both been named in the Senegal squad for the Africa Cup of Nations as they recover from injury.
Koulibaly, 30, had been a doubt for the tournament after picking up a thigh strain in a match against Sassuolo on 1 December.
Winger Sarr’s last game was Watford’s 4-1 win over Manchester United on 20 November, in which the 23-year-old scored before being replaced as he suffered a knee injury.
Despite neither man playing since those injuries they have both been included in Senegal coach Aliou Cisse’s 27-man squad for the finals that kick-off on 9 January in Cameroon.
The 2019 runners-up are in Group B alongside Guinea, Malawi and Zimbabwe, as they seek a first ever continental title.
Seny Dieng, who plays in the Championship in England for Queens Park Rangers, is named as one of the reserve goalkeepers alongside first-choice Mendy.
Injury means that Monaco’s Krepin Diatta will miss the tournament.
Senegal squad for Afcon 2021
Goalkeepers:
Edouard Mendy (Chelsea, England), Alfred Gomis (Rennes, France), Seny Dieng (Queens Park Rangers, England).
Defenders:
Bouna Sarr (Bayern Munich, Germany), Saliou Ciss (Nancy, France), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli, Italy), Pape Abou Cisse (Olympiakos, Greece), Abdoulaye Seck (Royal Antwerp, Belgium), Abdou Diallo (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Ibrahima Mbaye (Bologna, Italy), Fode Ballo-Toure (AC Milan, Italy), Cheikhou Kouyate (Crystal Palace, England).
Midfielders:
Pape Matar Sarr (Metz, France), Pape Gueye (Marseille, France), Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City, England), Idrissa Gana Gueye (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Moustapha Name (Paris FC, France), Mamadou Loum (Alaves, Spain), Joseph Lopy (Sochaux, France).
Forwards:
Boulaye Dia (Villarreal, Spain), Sadio Mane (Liverpool, England), Habib Diallo (Strasbourg, France), Bamba Dieng (Marseille, France), Ismaila Sarr (Watford, England), Famara Diedhiou (Alanyaspor, Turkey), Mame Baba Thiam (Kayserispor,Turkey), Keita Balde (Cagliari, Italy).
