Official: Diao out of Africa Cup of Nations after Como injury

It is now official that Como forward Assane Diao will withdraw from the Senegal squad at the Africa Cup of Nations due to injury.

The 20-year-old player was at the centre of controversy last week when Como coach Cesc Fabregas complained of an “unpleasant” conversation with the Senegalese Federation.

He was allowed to participate in the final Serie A match before the tournament and promptly limped off with an injury on December 15 against Roma.

Diao arrived in Dakar to join the Senegal squad on December 18 and tests have confirmed a lesion to the femoral bicep in his right thigh.

It is enough to rule him out of the Africa Cup of Nations, so he will return to Italy for treatment with his club medical staff.

Fabregas was very critical of the call-up in the first place, insisting Diao’s dismal record of injuries made it a risky idea, even before this latest setback.

“I am a huge fan of international teams, I am really glad when my players are called for international duty, it’s a big thing for a player. I just asked for a little common sense for them not to call him, because this is a player who barely featured for eight months as he keeps getting hurt and can find no consistency,” said Fabregas last week.

“He said if Diao doesn’t come with us, he won’t go to the World Cup. That’s not fair, it plays on the fears of the player, he is 20 years old and has a whole career ahead of him. I don’t agree with this, it was not fair and not right.”