Assane Diao Called Up by Senegal and Pre-Selected by Spain

Assane Diao is currently facing a dilemma regarding his sporting nationality. Just weeks before the March 2025 international break, the Como player must decide whether to represent Senegal or Spain.

Born in 2005 in Ndangane, Senegal, Diao emigrated to Spain at the age of three, where he trained in various clubs before joining Real Betis in 2021. Since his transfer to Como 1907 in January 2025, the 19-year-old forward has been making waves in the Italian Serie A. In just nine appearances, Assane Diao has scored 5 goals. His performances have caught the attention of national teams. Senegal has called him up for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers, while Spain has included him in their preliminary list.

The coach of Como 1907 confirmed the approaches of the Senegalese and Spanish teams. He did not hesitate to comment on the matter.

"Assane Diao has been called up by Senegal, but he is also in Spain's preliminary list. He has to make a choice. I've spoken with him, and it's also my job to help him understand that he shouldn't forget what brought him to this level. In such cases, it's easy to lose focus. We have a lot of confidence in him, and we know this won't affect his professionalism," said Cesc Fàbregas.

Lydiane N'Po |

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Sports journalist specializing in African football, covering football news, exclusive stories and digital content for passionate fans of the game.