Struggling striker Habib Diallo is sweating over his place in Aliou Cissé’s Africa Cup of Nations plans amid fierce competition for places in Senegal’s attack.
Diallo has endured a difficult campaign in Saudi Arabia since joining Al Shabab from French club Strasbourg, scoring just once in 18 appearances.
And that alarming dip in form leaves the 28-year-old vulnerable to missing out on next month’s continental showpiece as Cissé finalises his squad on Friday.
The Senegal coach has favoured Diallo as fourth-choice striker behind Boulaye Dia, Famara Diedhiou and Bamba Dieng despite modest returns for his country of four goals in 18 games.
Yet while Dia is sidelined injured and Dieng is still finding his feet at new club Lorient, exciting options have emerged to freshen up the forward line.
Rangers loanee Abdallah Sima has been electric since moving to Glasgow, hitting 14 goals in 31 outings to propel himself into contention.
And even if Diallo sneaks into an expanded 27-man preliminary party, Sparta Prague youngster Ibrahim Traore, 20, offers an intriguing wildcard option after his 10 strikes in 15 appearances this term.
So having failed to make the cut for the World Cup in November when in decent scoring form for Strasbourg, out-of-sorts Diallo may well be left behind again now as African champions Senegal bid for back-to-back titles.
