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09:31 GMT, Wednesday, 21 May 2008 10:31 UK

Niang left out of Senegal squad

By Piers Edwards
BBC Sport, Dakar

Senegal and Marseille striker Mamadou Niang

Senegal coach Lamine Ndiaye has named a 22-man squad for the forthcoming 2010 World Cup qualifiers which does not include star striker Mamadou Niang.

The exclusion of the Marseille man, whose 18 goals were the second highest in the French league, confirms the 28-year-old's disillusion with the Teranga Lions.

"Niang has written to the Senegalese Football Federation asking not to be called up until next year," Ndiaye said on Wednesday after naming his squad.

Niang's absence relates to this year's Nations Cup, where he was unhappy with the organisation surrounding Senegal's disastrous campaign.

He will now miss the entire Group 6 qualifying campaign, in which Senegal host Algeria on 31 May before facing West African rivals from Liberia and The Gambia.

In addition, veterans Habib Beye, Lamine Diatta and Papa Bouba Diop - all of whom contested January's finals in Ghana - have been dropped.

In their place have come defender Cheikh Gueye, set to win only his second cap, while both goalkeeper Pape Laye Coulibaly and striker Issar Dia are in line to make their Senegal debuts.

Dia, a former French junior aged 20, has turned his back on France just days before his option to switch countries expired.

Fifa rules state that a player who represents one team at youth level can play senior football for a different nation as long as he makes his decision before turning 21.

Nancy striker Dia should thus expect to make his Senegal debut on 31 May against Algeria, just 8 days before his 21st birthday.

Ndiaye has recalled Pape Malikou Diakhite, who missed the Nations Cup through injury, as well as Pascal Mendy and Kader Mangane - both of whom were overlooked for Ghana.

Souleymane Diawara, whose Bordeaux side came second in France, followed Niang in asking to be excused - although he requested his absence because of fatigue.

The 2002 World Cup finalists will gather in Dakar from Wednesday, starting their preparations the following day.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Tony Sylva (Lille, France), Bouna Coundoul (Colorado Rapids, USA), Abdoulaye Coulibaly (St Etienne, France)

Defenders: Pascal Mendy (Kaunnas, Lithuania), Cheikh Gueye (Metz, France), Pape Malickou Diakhate (Dynamo Kiev, Ukraine), Ibrahima Sonko (Reading, England), Abdoulaye Diagne Faye (Newcastle Utd, England), Guirane Ndaw (Sochaux, France), Ibrahima Faye (Troyes, France)

Midfielders: Mustapha Bayal Sall (St Etienne, France), Pape Malick Be (FC Basel, Switzerland), Ousmane Ndoye (FC Vaslui, Romania), Pape Waïgo Ndiaye (Fiorentina, Italy), Babacar Gueye (Metz, France), Frederic Mendy (Bastia, France), Diomansy Kamara (Fulham, England), Kader Mangane (Lens, France)

Forwards: El Hadj Diouf (Bolton Wanderers, England), Henri Camara (West Ham Utd, England), Pape Modou Sougou (Leiria, Portugal), Issiar Dia (Nancy, France)



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Related to this story:

Senegal extend Ndiaye's contract (16 May 08 |  African )
Senegal league to restart (16 May 08 |  African )
Fifa recognises Senegal committee (30 Apr 08 |  African )
Senegal 1-1 South Africa (31 Jan 08 |  African )

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