Cisse was dropped for the Japan tie

Stephan said captain Aliou Cisse, Ferdinand Coly, Pape Sarr, Moussa Ndiaye and Pape Thiaw have been left out as a result of their poor form.

But midfielder Khalilou Fadiga was dropped due to ill-health.

Fadiga, whose transfer from Auxerre to Inter Milan was stalled as a result of a viral heart condition, is receiving treatment and should resume his career before the end of the year.

Stephan insists that he has not turned his back on the excluded players.

"The door is still open for them and we are following players like Fary Faye, who has just changed clubs," he said.

Also missing from the squad is the Sochaux defender Ibrahim Tall but Mamadou Seck and Ousmane Ndoye have been recalled.

After playing Japan, Senegal will face Mexico in Washington DC on 11 October before a home warm-up tie against Ivory Coast on 15 November.

A final friendly game is scheduled for 17 January but an opponent is yet to be picked.

Senegal, finalists at last year's Nations Cup in Mali, are one of the seeded teams for the 2004 finals in Tunisia.

Squad