Salif Diao has taken on the role of the team's unofficial spokesman following a dispute over pay at the African Nations Cup.

The 25-year-old spoke on behalf of his team-mates with the Senegalese Football Association to ensure bonuses for squad members.

Diao, in his outspoken guise, has taken to criticising his international colleagues for failing to gel enough as a team.

As a player, he has been sensational for his squad, creating goals and scoring screamers to boot.

But he has only just won back his place in the team following Bruno Metsu's appointment as head coach in October 2000.