“After the African Cup of Nations in Ghana, I decided to take some time to think and fall back from the National Team in order to see morer clearly. I have seen things in Ghana that I did not care for and that I can’t condone. So I decided I would not be responding positively to the Senegal call-ups until I haven’t spolen with the new People at the Federation and with my Coach”

See this should have me shook. mamadou Niang is the best senegalese player playing today but he ahs so many things against him on this one that I don’t see this having any effectr on whoever is concerned. First of all, no matter what he says, Mamad’ as he likes to be called, has never showed anything stellar with the Lions and I am still wating for him to prove all those who believe he doesn’t play 100% wrong. For the record, I think he plays because he kinda HAS to but he never was as patriotic as a Henri Camara for example.
Anyway, The other reason is that most non-european players will be on vacation between the four games in Jube and this seems all too convenient for him to be suddenly concerned with the winner workings of the tem while he was faking an inkury last year to go on vcation with his family in Washington D.C (Of all places?).
Anyway, this is another one of those convenience retirement and I’m looking forward to seeing him back in the Selection next season.

“People shouldn’t try to put all the weight of the team on Mamadou Niang’s shoulders. We are a team of 23 players who are all professionals. We will go to the Can with all of these young men. And we must rely on the collective and not on one individual player. This is a group that is capable of doing something positive in Ghana.”

Speaking of his trophy

“I must say that my appointment by the national sports press as the best footballer this year is a reward that makes me very happy. I was not expecting it but now that I have been elected, I will try my hardest to honour this award at the CAN”

He wanted to add that each and everyone of our opponents at the CAN will be more than dangerous. Wether Tunisa, Angola and South Africa, each of these countries have been to the World Cup so they are part of the cream of the african teams. I like that none of our players seems to be overlooking the compettion yet. One of the biggest senegalese flaws is thinkingsome games are won on talent alone and that could come back and bite us in our asses. Everybody must remember the first half against Guinea in the quarterfinal of the last CAN. They nearly beat us and that should not happen again.

Tony Sylva, Lamine Diatta, Souleymane Diawara, Ibrahima Sonko, Guirane Ndaw, Bayal Sall, Pape Bouba Diop, Diomansy Kamara, Frédéric Mendy, El Hadji Diouf, Mamadou Niang

The first two goals were scored by Diomansy Kamara who had an incredibly prolific game. The third one was all Henri Camara and what a beautiful goal it was by the “Gunning rabbit”. At half time, half the team was changed, notably mamadou Naing and Elhadji Diouf getting replaced. After a few minutes of taking used-to that brough tthe magnificent Namibian goal, everybody went back to work and won this one pretty easily.

Here is a video that is made of highlights of the game, a few half time interviews, a little backstory on Ghana organized world cups and finally a little subject on the fourth biggest town in Ghana, Tamalé, where we will face Tunisia, Angola and South Africa.

It’s in eleven days that the Lions of Senegal will enter the Cup, against Tunisia in Tamale (Rami and I won’t be talking trash, trust us) and the turbulent number 11 of the “Lions of Teranga” have people talking more about his performances in the nightclubs of Dakar than on the pitch, which gave him two consecutive African Player of the Year trophies (2001-2002). Yet it seems that the general public can’t seem to fall out of love with him like it has happened in similar cases all around Africa (Okocha, Bocandé, Adébayor, etc…). What’s the reason for his undying popularity?

“Diouf is the best Senegalese football player of all time and the Senegalese will never bea able to forget his performances from the World Cup in 2002. He’s the symbol of the team and an icon to his compatriots and as they say, when we love, we can forgive anything, so the public forgets escapades “

Mamadou Diouf (no relation), former president of the “Association Nationale de la Presse Sportive du Sénégal.

It’s true that in 2002, “Dioufy” as he’s called in England, allowed us Senegal to qualify for the first World Cup of our history and to reach the quarterfinals of the competition, after a more than symbolic victory during the opening match against France (1-0), former colonizer and reigning World Champions.
At the time Diouf was just the best damn player in France, period and dominated the whole competition, being traded to Liverpool before even reaching Korea. It must be said that at the time, the kid was just that, a kid that was promised to a more than bright future. If he hasn’t lost anything of his abilities, it seems that he decides to tun it on and off when he wants. Sometimes, it is just too late for the team that has been expecting marvels from the superstar. Let’s see how well he plays this year.

It must be said, to the credit of the Saint-louis native, that he has never been a locker-room cancer or an egocentric like his status could have let perceive. He genuinely seems to enjoy the company of his teammates and is the life of the party. And the armband wether we like it or not has been more than benefic for him since he seems to want to set an example even more now. I was more than pissed when Kasperczack took it from homebodies like Omar Daf and Habib Bèye to give it to him but it suits him.
Something else, Diouf has played nearly every position for the national team just for the sake of the team, to allow players like Niang and Kamara (or the Camaras – Henri or Souleymane) to be at a more comfortable position for them.
Let’s now forget the partying with Akon, the spitting on supporters and wthe boozing for a month Elhadji and maybe we can get back on top.