African Cup of Nations holders Senegal has been forced to make two squad changes only days before the start of their championship defence, with forward Boulaye Dia and backup goalkeeper Seny Dieng pulled out of the tournament in Ivory Coast.
The Senegalese federation said on Tuesday that they will be replaced by Bamba Dieng and Alfred Gomis, both from the failing French club Lorient.
Dia’s participation has been in doubt since December 22, when he hurt his knee while playing for Salernitana against AC Milan in Serie A, but he has been granted time to heal.
Middlesborough goalkeeper Dieng also travelled to Senegal’s pre-tournament training camp in Dakar in the hope of proving his fitness, but was unsuccessful. He had suffered a thigh injury in his club’s Championship victory at Swansea City on Dec. 16.
The new call-ups are a further blow to Lorient, who are second last in the Ligue 1 standings. They already have five players who have gone to the Cup of Nations — Darlin Yongwa (Cameroon), Gedeon Kalulu (DR Congo), Sirine Doucoure (Mali), Formose Mendy (Senegal) and Montassar Talbi (Tunisia).
Two more absentees leaves them severely depleted for their game away at Lille this weekend and a subsequent home game against Le Havre on Jan. 28.
Senegal open their Cup of Nations Group C campaign on Monday against the Gambia in Yamoussoukro.
