Aliou Cisse, the coach of defending champions Senegal, has rolled the dice by including striker Boulaye Dia in their 27-man squad for the upcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast. Despite concerns over his fitness, Coach Cisse expresses confidence in Dia’s timely recovery.
Cisse’s selection strategy comes amid Senegal’s quest to prove their mettle by blending players from the Saudi championship with those competing in Europe’s top leagues. This shift in approach marks a departure from his earlier reluctance to consider Saudi-based players due to the perceived lower quality compared to European leagues.
The inclusion of five key figures, including star players Sadio Mane, Edouard Mendy, and Kalidou Koulibaly, who now ply their trade in Saudi Arabia, signals Senegal’s intent to replicate their AFCON success with a squad featuring players from diverse leagues.
“We previously proved our capability to clinch the title with players in top European leagues,” Cisse stated during a press conference. “Now, we aim to demonstrate our winning potential with talents from Saudi Arabia.”
The 47-year-old coach, determined to secure Senegal’s second AFCON crown, exuded the same hunger that propelled them to victory in Cameroon in 2022. His ambition aligns with Senegal’s pursuit of becoming the first team since Egypt in 2010 to defend the prestigious title.
Senegal finds itself placed in Group C alongside Cameroon, Guinea, and Gambia as they gear up for the biennial tournament hosted by Ivory Coast, scheduled from January 13 to February 11.
See Senegal 27-man list below:
*Goalkeepers:* Edouard Mendy (Al Ahli/KSA), Seny Dieng (Middlesbrough/ENG), Mory Diaw (Clermont/FRA)
*Defenders:* Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal/KSA), Abdou Diallo (Al-Arabi/QAT), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa/ISR), Abdoulaye Niakhate (Troyes/FRA), Moussa Niakhate (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Fode Ballo Toure (Fulham/ENG), Youssouf Sabaly (Real Betis/ESP), Ismail Jackobs (Monaco/FRA), Formose Mendy (Lorient/FRA)
*Midfielders:* Nampalys Mendy (Lens/FRA), Idrissa Gueye (Everton/ENG), Pape Sarr (Tottenham/ENG), Pape Gueye (Marseille/FRA), Krepin Diatta (Monaco/FRA), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano/ESP), Cheikhou Kouyate (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Lamine Camara (Metz/FRA)
*Forwards:* Sadio Mane (Al Nassr/KSA), Habibou Diallo (Al Shabab), Iliman Ndiaye (Marseille/FRA), Ismaila Sarr (Marseille/FRA), Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea/ENG), Boulaye Dia (Salernitana/ITA), Abdallah Sima (Rangers/SCO)