Senegal players not eager to report to camp

21 May 2012 17:07:00

Senegalese players’ agent Thierno Seydi says most of the Teranga Lions players are reluctant to return to the outfit following their debacle at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations

It is almost certain Senegal captain Mamadou Niang will not be taking part in the upcoming 2014 World Cup qualifying with his team, but other key players may be absent as well, according Senegalese-born Thierno Seydi, who is the agent of a number of Senegal internationals as well as Cote D’Ivoire’s Didier Drogba.

“These players are not sure they’d be welcomed back by local fans after they broke many hearts by failing to reach the knockout stage in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations,” Seydi told Senegal press agency, APS, on Monday.

“None of them has been able to explain why the team fumbled at the 2012 showpiece. They still feel the pain and know fans have not forgotten what happened,” he added.

Newcastle’s Demba Ba is yet to respond to an invitation sent to him last week, according to the team’s coordinator former international Ferdinand Coly. Fenerbahce’s duo Moussa Sow and Issiar Dia will not be available as well officials said.

Senegal's Football Federation named assistant coach Joseph Koto as caretaker following the withdrawal of French coach Pierre Lechantre. He will be assisted by the Olympic team staff composed of Karim Sega Diouf and Aliou Cisse, who led Senegal to a goalless draw in a friendly against South Africa last February.

Koto has published a list of 27 players for a friendly against Morocco on May 24 in Marrakech and the World Cup qualifying clashes against Liberia and Uganda on June 2 and 9.

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