Senegal take a chance on Mbodji
DAKAR: Senegal have gambled on imposing defender Kara Mbodji recovering from a knee injury to play in the World Cup after he was named in their 23-man squad on Thursday.
The 28-year-old centre back has not played for his Belgian club Anderlecht since December but was included in the squad by coach Aliou Cisse, who will have until June 4 to change his mind if Mbodji proves unfit to go to Russia.
Cisse, who captained Senegal on their previous World Cup appearance 16 years ago, handed veteran striker Moussa Sow a place in the squad but left out Pape Souare, the Crystal Palace full back who was recalled for two friendlies in March after recovering from a car accident that almost cost him his career.
Also missing out was Everton striker Oumar Niasse, although there are seven players from English clubs in the final selection, headed by Liverpool forward Sadio Mane.
Senegal compete in Group H at the World Cup, starting against Poland on June 19 in Moscow before playing Japan and Colombia.
They begin their pre-tournament preparations in Senegal on Monday but Mane will only join up with the squad after the Champions League final on May 26.
Meanwhile, Sofiane Boufal’s fallout at Southampton has cost him a World Cup place as Morocco coach Herve Renard made the surprise selection of Mehdi Carcela in his 23-man squad named on Thursday.
Boufal, 24, was banished from the Southampton first team following an argument with manager Mark Hughes and missed the last five games of the Premier League season.
Morocco’s squad was announced without any comment on their federation website (www.frmf.ma) but Renard has previously omitted players with disciplinary issues.
The 28-year-old Carcela, who won two caps for Belgium in friendlies before switching allegiance to Morocco, played eight minutes of the World Cup qualification campaign and had not been in the squad since September, but has played a major role in helping Standard Liege to second place in the Belgian league.
Morocco, who face Iran, Portugal and Spain in World Cup Group B, begin their training camp on Thursday in Rabat and play friendlies against Ukraine, Slovakia and Estonia before heading to Russia.