Senegal manager refuses to talk about Demba Ba [divider]

Senegal national team coach Alan Giresse refused to talk about Demba Ba when asked by reporters why he dropped the Beşiktaş striker from the African Cup of Nations squad.

“If I remember correctly we played six games in qualifying and won four without him,” Giresse said.

“I think that may have escaped you, if we are going to talk about Demba Ba, we may as well say goodbye now. “

Ba criticised Giresse’s decision to omit him from the team.

“He says I cannot play every three days. This season I have scored eight goals in Europe and as many in the league. And to play those competitions, you have to play Thursdays and Sundays, don’t you?” Ba said.

The 29-year-old striker has been in in prolific form for the Black Eagles scoring 16 times in 20 appearances this season.

The Senegalese international has recovered from his toe injury and is expected to start for Beşiktaş in the Istanbul derby against Galatasaray on Sunday.