Snubbed by Pape Thiaw, Sambou Soumano and Mbacké Fall express outrage

This Wednesday, March 13, the Senegal coach unveiled his list for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Absent from Pape Thiaw's roster, Sambou Soumano and Mbacké Fall couldn't hide their frustration.

Coach Pape Thiaw called up 26 players, including six new reinforcements to face Sudan and Togo on March 22 and 25 respectively, for the 5th and 6th qualifying matches of the 2026 World Cup. However, Sambou Soumano and Mbacké Fall were not included in the squad.

Sambou Soumano is having a remarkable season with 10 goals and 3 assists in 25 matches with FC Lorient in France's Ligue 2. These performances do not seem to have convinced the Senegalese coach. The 24-year-old striker didn't hold back his feelings about the omission. "Well, the performances are there. At some point, you have to wonder: what does it take to get in?" he wrote on Instagram.

The FC Lorient player is not the only one feeling outraged. Like Sambou Soumano, Mbacké Fall was also not called up to the Lions of Teranga. The defender, playing with FC Barcelona's reserve team, also expressed his discontent. He criticized the coach's alleged preference for dual nationals, stating: "Fallen for the dual nationals, well done. No wonder kids choose different nations."

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.