Senegal head coach Alain Giresse has addressed the much-discussed exclusion of Diafra Sakho from his 23-man squad for the upcoming double-header against Tunisia in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The omission of the in-form West Ham striker raised eyebrows, particularly among fans and pundits who have been impressed with his strong performances in the English Premier League.
Speaking at a press conference, Giresse explained:
“As for Sakho, it’s due to the fact that we have attacking potential. He’s definitely taking his place. He’s also moving up the ladder, which is good for him, for the national team, and for his club. But the players who are here have shown that they’re finding their form again, like Papiss Demba Cissé, that they have good physical condition, and experience that’s still useful. After that, it creates a bottleneck, and it’s a choice I made, even if it’s debatable.”
Giresse emphasized that the decision was not a judgment on Sakho’s talent or form, but rather a strategic call given the depth and experience of the current squad—particularly in attack. He acknowledged that leaving out the striker might be controversial but framed it as a tough yet necessary decision.
It’s also worth noting that in previous matches against Egypt and Botswana, Giresse cited Sakho’s then-recent club transfer to West Ham as the reason for his absence, stating the need to let the player settle and adapt to his new environment.
Despite the omission, Giresse made it clear that Sakho remains very much in his plans and that his current trajectory bodes well for future call-ups.
