Watford winger Ismaila Sarr has joined Senegal for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after being released by his club.
Despite not featuring in the Premier League match since November, the Senegalese can now have some breathing space after confirming that one of their star forwards will be part of the AFCON squad.
The Premier League club said Sarr was injured after Senegal accused Watford of refusing to release him for the tournament, which starts on 9 January.
Senegal confirmed that the 23-year-old left London for Cameroon on Tuesday.
Sarr has been out with knee ligament damage since November and Watford invited his nation to send their own doctor to assess his injury according to BBC.
Fifa rules state any player called up for international duty must be released, even if injured, so they can be assessed by the country’s own medical staff.
National captain and Liverpool’s Sadio Mane who got his scoring boots on in his last Premier league apperance against Chelsea will be the biggest face to watch out for in an all star studied Senegal squad.
Chelsea goalkeeper Eduardo Mendy, Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly, Cagliari’s Keita Balde Diao, Crystal Palace’s Cheikhou Kouyaté, PSG defender Abdou Diallo and Villarreal forward Boulaye Dia are other big names to watch out for.
Senegal’s first Group B match is against Zimbabwe on Monday.
Senegal Full squad for AFCON
Goalkeepers:
Edouard Mendy (Chelsea, England), Alfred Gomis (Rennes, France), Seni Dieng (QPR, England.)
Defenders:
Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli, Italy), Ibrahima Mbaye (Bologna, Italy), Bouna Sarr (Bayern Munich, Germany), Cheikhou Kouyaté (Crystal Palace, England), Abdou Diallo (Paris St Germain, France) Abdoulaye Seck (Royal Antwerp, Belgium), Fodé Ballo Touré (AC Milan, Italy), Saliou Ciss (Nancy, France)
Midfielders:
Idrissa Gueye (PSG, France), Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City, England), Pape Matar Sarr (Metz, France), Moustapha Name (Paris FC, France), Loum Ndiaye (Alaves, Spain), Pape Gueye (Marseille, France), Joseph Lopy (Sochaux, France).
Forwards:
Sadio Mané (Liverpool, England), Boulaye Dia (Villarreal,Spain), Ismaila Sarr (Watford, England), Famara Diedhiou (Alanyaspor, Turkey), Habib Diallo (Strasbourg, France), Bamba Dieng (Marseille, France), Keita Balde Diao (Cagliari, Italy), Ismail Jakobs (Monaco, France), Famara Diédhiou (Alanyaspor, Turkey).
(Photo: Sarr 18 with his captain Mane in National Colours)
