Stoke City Seeks Extension for Mame Biram Diouf Amid AFCON Preparations
Stoke City is eager to keep Senegalese striker Mame Biram Diouf for a bit longer before he joins the national team for the 2015 African Cup of Nations preparations starting January 5th.
Manager Mark Hughes expressed hope that Senegal’s staff might allow Diouf to remain available for Stoke’s crucial Premier League clash against Arsenal. “We hope to keep Mame a little longer. He’s due to leave on January 5th but we’ll talk to see if we can get him against Arsenal. But if Senegal say no, they’ll be within their rights,” Hughes told Stoke City’s official website on Tuesday.
He added, “There’s not much we can do but we’ll talk and see if we can convince his managers to stay with us for a while longer.”
Diouf was instrumental in Stoke’s recent victory over West Bromwich Albion, scoring both goals last Sunday.
