 Sonko gets his first call-up for the Lions |
The Senegal squad to take on Gambia in Nations Cup qualifying may have only one new face, but it is nevertheless full of surprises. Central defender Ibrahima Sonko, from English second division club Brentford, gets his first call up in the place of Lamine Diatta who is injured.
But Diatta is not the only absentee.
Omar Daf, Habib Beye and captain Aliou Cisse are also out, and coach Guy Stephan has had to improvise in defense.
Spartak Moscow left back Baye Ali Ibra Kebe is recalled after a long absence, and Ibrahima Diallo of Senegalese champions Jeanne d'Arc could also fill in.
Diallo and team mate Khalidou Cissokho are the only local players named.
Ousmane Ndoye will almost certainly fill in for the suspended Khalilou Fadiga on the left side of the Lions' midfield.
Stephan has also chosen to leave out some regular internationals.
Souleymane Camara, Pape Thiaw and Makhtar Ndiaye were all part of the 2002 Nations Cup and World Cup squads, but have not been included.
It gives a chance for some young strikers to make their mark.
Mamadou Niang has an impressive international scoring record, Diomansy Kamara is playing regularly in Italy's Serie A for Modena, and Mamadou Diabang is on fire in the German Bundesliga.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Tony Sylva (Monaco, France), Kalidou Cissokho (Jeanne d'Arc)
Defenders: Ferdinand Coly (Birmingham, England), Pape Malick Diop (Lorient, France), Souleymane Diawara (Le Havre, France), Ibrahim Tall (Sochaux, France), Ibrahima Sonko (Brentford, England), Ibrahima Diallo (Jeanne d'Arc), Baye Ali Ibra K�b� (Spartak Moscow)
Midfield: Salif Diao (Liverpool, England), Amdy Faye (Auxerre, France), Sylvain Ndiaye (Lille, France), Pape Bouba Diop (Lens, France), Ousmane Ndoye (Toulouse, France)
Forwards: El Hadji Diouf (Liverpool, England), Diomansy Kamara (Modena, Italy), Mamadou Diabang (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany), Mamadou Niang (Metz, France), Henri Camara (Sedan, France)
MMIX
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