Como manager Cesc Fabregas has accused Senegal of ‘playing on the fears’ of Assane Diao amid a threat of 2026 World Cup omission.
Diao has struggled with foot and hamstring injuries this season, making only seven appearances across all competitions. Despite this, he was named in the Senegal squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, which gets underway on Sunday.
The winger started for Como in their 1-0 defeat to Roma in Serie A last Sunday, but was substituted on 37 minutes through injury.
Report claim the 20-year-old has suffered a grade two hamstring tear and is set for an extended period on the sidelines.
However, Senegal have not announced a replacement for Diao, even though they said Mamadou Camara is in for the injured Ilay Camara.
Assane Diao suffers an injury during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Como. (Photo by Silvia Lore/Getty Images)
Speaking via The Athletic, Como boss Fabregas said: “Assane injured his flexor while making that run on goal. Sometimes as a coach, you say something and then get slaughtered for it.
“I talk with passion and say what comes naturally to me. I’ve been very clear. I’m a big fan of international football. All of my players are international players, I think.
“Playing for the national team is the best thing for a player. I asked [Senegal], please, for some common sense, to not take him because he has played three games in eight months, a bit here, a bit there after playing a full game against Napoli.
“He then went away on international duty, got injured, was out for a month, and came back now. It happens. I’m sorry for the boy because today [against Roma], he probably shouldn’t have played either.
“Tomorrow, he was supposed to go away on international duty, be away for five weeks and since we’re the ones paying his salary, we might as well take a risk and play him a little.”
Assane Diao injured during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Como 1907 at Stadio Olimpico. (Photo by Fabio Rossi/AS Roma via Getty Images)
Fabregas then recalled speaking to Senegal boss Pape Thiaw: “He told me that if he [Diao] doesn’t go away with the team, now he won’t go to the World Cup.
“I didn’t like that. It wasn’t a pleasant conversation. When you play on the fears of the player, that’s wrong.
“He is 20 and has his entire career ahead of him. I don’t think it’s right, honestly.”
Senegal are one of the favourites to go all the way at AFCON in Morocco given their star-studded squad. The West Africa nation have been drawn in Group D and are up against Botswana in their opening match on Monday.
They then face DR Congo and Benin, with a top-two finish sending them into the knockout stages.
