Demba Ba is among the seven strikers named by Senegal
Senegal have named seven world-class strikers in their final squad for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Coach Amara Traore’s 23-man squad includes some of the best scorers in the top leagues of Europe including the current second highest scorer in the English Premier League Demba Ba.
Moussa Sow, last season’s top scorer in France and Papiss Demba Cisse, who finished second highest in the German Bundesliga last season are also included.
Denmark top-flight league’s best player and top scorer striker Dame N’Doye and attacker Mamadou Niang, the star player Asian champions Al Sadd was also named.
The Teranga Lions attacking options are further boosted by the inclusion of striker Dame N’Doye, voted the best player in Denmark this year.
Traore’s new generation of Senegal stars includes 17 players who will making their maiden appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations as only six players from their 2008 squad that played in the tournament remain in the squad.
This means the Teranga Lions will be counting on the experience of goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul, defenders Bayal Sall, Souleymane Diawara, Guirane Ndaw, Pape Malickou Diakhate and striker Niang were all part of the squad in Ghana to help them win the title.
But with just four specialist midfielders in the team, coach Traore has been forced to defend the composition attacking-minded squad insisting his players are versatile.
“It is a balanced list because of the versatility amongst the players,” Traore said.
“In the Nations Cup its 16 or 18 players who are going to be used.”
The Teranga Lions are one of the favourites for the tournament having qualified from an tough group that included giants Cameroon.
Senegal are in Group A of the tournament, alongside co-hosts Equatorial Guinea, Zambia and Libya.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Khadim Ndiaye (ASC Linguere), Bouna Coundoul (New York Red Bulls, USA), Pape Latyr Ndiaye (Ouakam)
Defenders: Kader Mangane (Rennes, France), Souleymane Diawara (Marseille, France), Lamine Sané (Bordeaux, France), Jacques Faty (Sivasspor, Turkey), Moustapha Bayal Sall (St Etienne, France), Pape Malickou Diakhaté (Granada, Spain), Cheikh Mbengue (Toulouse, France), Armand Traoré (QPR, England), Omar Daf (Brest, France)
Midfielders: Rémi Gomis (Valenciennes, France) , Mouhamed Diamé ( Wigan, England), Guirane N’Daw (Birmingham City, England), Ndiaye Dème Ndiaye (Arles-Avignon, France)
Forward: Issiar Dia ( Fenerbahce, Turkey), Moussa Sow (Lille, France), Papiss Demba Cissé (Freiburg, Germany), Souleymane Camara (Montpelier, France), Mamadou Niang (Al Sadd, Qatar), Demba Ba (Newcastle United, England), Dame N’Doye (FC Copenhagen, Denmark).