World Cup 2026 (Q): Furious Almería reacts to Dion Lopy's call-up to Senegal

Dion Lopy has been called up to the Senegal national team by coach Pape Thiaw for the 5th and 6th matchdays of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. This selection has sparked a strong reaction from UD Almería.

Senegal's coach, Pape Thiaw, recently released the list of 26 players selected for the matches against Sudan and Togo, scheduled for March 22 and 25, 2025, respectively. Among those called up is Dion Lopy, a midfielder for Almería. It's good news for the 23-year-old player, marking his return to the national team after a nine-month absence.

However, this announcement caught UD Almería off guard. The Spanish club's coach expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of prior notification from the FSF regarding Lopy's call-up.

"It's clear that it affects the team when a player is called up to the national team. Regarding Lopy's call-up, we are very happy for the player because every footballer dreams of representing their national team. However, officially, we were told nothing. No one told us anything. Things aren't done like this. We are very angry. It's true we are very happy for the player, but there are parameters to be respected, and Senegal did not do this with us," stated Rubi.

Dion Lopy currently has 23 matches in Liga 2 with UD Almería. He has scored one goal and provided three assists this season in the Spanish second division championship. He is a regular starter in his club's defense. Lopy's absence, combined with that of Bruno Langa, called up by Mozambique, further weakens the squad ahead of the next match against Burgos.

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.