Sadio Mane will not play for Senegal in next month’s internationals against Ireland and England after asking to be excused for the two friendly matches.
Mane is the only major absentee from a 26-man squad unveiled by coach Pape Thiaw yesterday.
“It’s a personal decision that is his private business, and I respect that as a coach”, Thiaw told a press conference.
The 33-year-old Mane, who has won 111 caps for the west Africa country, has been subjected to criticism for his last performances for Senegal in March, where they drew with Sudan but beat Togo in World Cup qualifiers.
Thiaw named one newcomer in midfielder Mamadou Lamine Camara, who won the African Confederation Cup on Sunday with his Moroccan club Renaissance Berkane.
There are returns to the squad after missing the March qualifiers for seven players, including Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson and Iliman Ndiaye from Everton.
Senegal take on Ireland in Dublin on June 6 and England in Nottingham on June 10.
