Senegal Recall Demba Ba and Papiss Cissé Ahead of Crucial CAN Qualifiers Against Tunisia
Senegal have welcomed back experienced forwards Demba Ba and Papiss Demba Cissé for their pivotal double-header against Tunisia in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) qualifiers. Both attackers bring a timely boost to the Lions of Teranga as they prepare for matches that could decide the fate of Group E.
Demba Ba, sidelined due to injury for Senegal’s opening qualifiers, is now fit and ready to feature. Meanwhile, Papiss Cissé marked a strong return to club football last weekend, netting twice for Newcastle United after nearly four months out with injury. “If he [coach Alain Giresse] calls me, I’ll come running,” Cissé affirmed earlier this week, underscoring his eagerness to contribute.
The two October fixtures against Tunisia, both teams sitting atop the group with six points each, are widely regarded as decisive for qualification. Coach Alain Giresse will welcome the attacking reinforcements amid a squad grappling with injury concerns, including absences of key players like Cheikhou Kouyaté and Lamine Sané.
Senegal’s squad for the qualifiers includes:
Goalkeepers:
Bouna Coundoul (Ethnikos Achna, Cyprus)
Lys Gomis (Trapani Calcio, Italy)
Pape Demba Camara (FC Sochaux, France)
Defenders:
Zargo Touré (Le Havre, France)
Issa Cissokho (FC Nantes, France)
Papy Misson Djilabodj (FC Nantes, France)
Lamine Sané (Bordeaux, France)
Serigne Modou Kara Mbodj (RC Genk, Belgium)
Pape Ndiaye Souaré (Lille, France)
Cheikh Mbengue (Rennes, France)
Cheikhou Kouyaté (West Ham United, England)
Midfielders:
Stéphane Badji (SK Brann, Norway)
Sadio Mané (Southampton, England)
Idrissa Gana Guèye (Lille, France)
Mohamed Diamé (West Ham United, England)
Alfred Ndiaye (Real Betis, Spain)
Pape Kouly Diop (Levante, Spain)
Salif Sané (Hannover 96, Germany)
Forwards:
Demba Ba (Beşiktaş, Turkey)
Moussa Sow (Fenerbahçe, Turkey)
Dame Ndoye (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia)
Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke City, England)
Papiss Demba Cissé (Newcastle United, England)
As Senegal aim to maintain their unbeaten run in the group, the return of Ba and Cissé adds firepower to an already talented squad. The forthcoming clashes with Tunisia, known as the Carthage Eagles, promise to be tightly contested and pivotal in the race to reach CAN 2015.
