Senegal Hit by Wave of Injuries Ahead of Crucial Tunisia Clashes
Senegal’s preparations for their pivotal AFCON 2015 qualifying double-header against Tunisia have been severely hampered by a series of injuries to key players. The situation has sparked concern among fans and local media, with some describing the upcoming matches as already “surrounded by misfortunes.”
The injury list continues to grow:
-
Cheikhou Kouyaté (West Ham) was the first to be ruled out.
-
Lamine Sané (Bordeaux) underwent knee surgery in Marseille and is sidelined.
-
Mame Birame Diouf (Stoke City) had his withdrawal confirmed on Thursday due to a thigh injury.
-
Now, Pape Ndiaye Souaré (Lille) appears likely to miss the matches as well. The defender limped off in the 40th minute during Lille’s 0-0 draw with Wolfsburg in the Europa League. Although his condition has not been officially confirmed, early signs are similar to Diouf’s thigh issue.
If Souaré’s absence is confirmed, Alain Giresse would be without four first-choice players in his tactical setup. This streak of injuries comes at the worst possible time, as Senegal faces a tough home-and-away test against a strong Tunisia side.
The matches are scheduled for October 10 in Dakar and October 15 in Monastir. With so many absences, the coach will be forced to make significant adjustments to maintain the Lions’ momentum in the qualifiers.
