Senegalese Stars Shine Bright in Premier League Ahead of Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers
Senegal’s Premier League contingent delivered a stunning offensive display over the weekend, capturing the attention of both English and Senegalese football fans alike.
On Monday, Senegalese media were abuzz with praise for the country’s national team players — known as the Lions — following their impressive goal-scoring exploits in England’s top flight. With five goals scored across several matches, Senegal’s Premier League stars showcased a rare offensive firepower that has ignited conversations back home.
The specialist sports daily STADES celebrated the contributions of players including Papis Cissé, Mame Birame Diouf, Diafra Sakho, and Mohamed Diamé. “With goals from Cissé, Diouf, Sakho, and Diamé, the Lions simply drove England crazy this Saturday,” the paper wrote.
Echoing this sentiment, WAA SPORTS described the day as “quite simply a fabulous English Saturday for the Lions.”
One of the standout stories was the impressive return of Papis Demba Cissé for Newcastle United. After nearly six months sidelined by injury and initially expected to return only in mid-October, Cissé marked his comeback with a crucial brace in Newcastle’s 2-2 draw against Hull City. He scored in the 69th and 87th minutes, helping to secure a valuable point for his side.
In that same match, Mohamed Diamé also found the net, scoring in the 48th minute to contribute to Newcastle’s goal tally. This means three of the four goals in the game came courtesy of Senegalese players, underscoring their significant influence on the pitch.
Meanwhile, in other Premier League fixtures, Mame Birame Diouf scored for Stoke City in their 2-2 draw against Queens Park Rangers, while Diafra Sakho netted a goal during West Ham’s 3-1 victory over Liverpool.
Le Soleil, a leading Senegalese daily, highlighted these key moments, noting the “sudden offensive efficiency” displayed by the Lions across the English top tier. This prolific scoring burst has sparked widespread discussion in Senegal, as fans and analysts alike are hopeful that the players’ form will translate to success on the international stage.
This surge in performance comes just two weeks before Senegal’s crucial double-header against Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles, scheduled for the third and fourth matchdays of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. With the Lions firing on all cylinders in England, anticipation is high for their upcoming showdown in what promises to be a pivotal qualification campaign.
As the Senegalese Premier League stars continue to shine abroad, they bring renewed optimism to a nation eager to see their team advance deep into AFCON 2015.
