European players who switched their nationality to play for Senegal – 2022 World Cup

-African countries who will be involved in the World Cup tournament are somewhat identifying diaspora players who are in one way or the other eligible to represent any of the five countries to be added to their teams.

This article aims to deal with players who have switched nationality allegiance to these African countries before the Mundial. These players are most likely going to make the final squads for the tournament that begins in November.

Senegal head coach Aliou Cissé handed a maiden call-up to Bayern Munchen defender BOUNA SARR ahead of the World Cup qualifications and was given his debut on October 9, 2021, in a 4-1 victory. 

Sarr went ahead to make three more appearances in the qualifiers, having lasted the entire duration of the matches against Namibia, Togo, and Congo. 

The 30-year-old right-back made the final squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, where Senegal finished as champions. Sarr played in all games at the tournament. 

Sarr was also involved in the World Cup playoff against Egypt in March. With his impressive displays for the Teranga Lions, he is in line to make the final squad for World Cup later this year.

Sarr, born and raised in France, rejected the opportunity to represent Senegal at the 2018 World Cup in Russia as he hoped to earn a France invitation.

Having waited for the France call-up and not getting it, Sarr decided to switch allegiance to play for Senegal in October 2021 and will finally make an appearance at the World Cup.

In March 2021, Aliou Cissé included Paris Saint Germain defender ABDOU DIALLO in his squad for the very first time ahead of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Congo and Eswatini. 

Diallo, who had previously represented France at U16, U17, U18, U19, U20, and U21 levels, was also handed a debut in the Teranga Lions’ victory over Congo in the same month. 

The former France U21 captain went ahead to feature prominently in the scheme of things for Senegal, having played four out of six matches in the World Cup qualification group stages.

The 26-year-old center-back made the cut in Cissé’s final squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations final tournament in Cameroon and was key for Senegal as they won the tournament for the first time in history. 

Diallo also played in the playoff encounter against Egypt in March, where he helped the Teranga Lions to book a World Cup qualification. He is expected to make Senegal’s final squad list for the Mundial in Qatar.

With Cissé and Senegal still identifying top talents and quality additions to the squad before the World Cup in Qatar later this year, France-born ILIMAN NDIAYE was called up for the first time in the last international break. 

The attacking midfielder played 23 minutes on his debut when Senegal beat Benin 3-1 at the Stade Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio on June 6, 2022.

Ndiaye was born in Rouen, France but hadn’t represented the European at any level yet was required to switch allegiance to Senegal before playing for them.

He signed for Sheffield United in August 2019 but waited to make his first team debut in March 2021 in a Premier League game against Leicester City. 

Ndiaye had a spectacular spell last season after making 36 appearances in all competitions, scoring seven goals and providing two assists.