Juba, South Sudan – As Senegal dey prepare for crucial World Cup qualifiers, their left-back, El Hadji Malick Diouf, don turn heads. The young star, wey just join West Ham United, don dey shine like diamond with im performance, abeg.
Diouf don make style for the Premier League this season, dey match Inter’s Federico Dimarco as defender wey get the highest assists in Europe’s top five leagues. E no be small achievement, my people! No wonder, Diouf dey believe say Senegal go make am to the World Cup next year if dem fit collect six points from the bottom teams, Mauritania and South Sudan, wey dem go meet this month.
“We get two finals to play, and we no go fit fail,” Diouf talk with confidence. “I sabi sey this na privilege to represent my country. Senegal people, I love una! We get plenty talented players, and we no dey play joke.”
Diouf and hin boys dey sit top for dia qualifying group. Even after dem beat Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s DR Congo last month, vision of World Cup dey sweet dem for belly. But waiting we go do? Win both games, make sure sey dem no forget sey Senegal dey present, as di campaign dey hot!
“It go mean everything for us to qualify,” e continue. “Kalidou Koulibaly don remind us sey we get two finals left, and we no fit slack.” E still run down memory lane, talking about di famous 2002 World Cup when Senegal shock di world by beating France.
Diouf no born when Papa Bouba Diop and Henri Camara dey show sey African players fit shine, but e sabi sey dat tournament carry joy come for Senegal. “Honestly, di feeling wey I get when we win AFCON last year na something wey I go carry all my life,” e talk, eyes shining with emotion.
As World Cup qualification dey call, Senegal fit make im fourth appearance if di boys fit perform well. Talk about pressure! With South Sudan wey dey languish at di bottom of di group, expectation dey high sey Senegal go chop dem small. “Dem no win any game for dis qualifiers, so we dey plan to use dem to cement our place,” Diouf ginger talk.
As di clock dey tick down to di qualifiers, Senegal na di favorites to carry di day enter next Africa Cup of Nations. Dem don perform well since 2017 and dey eye for second title after winning in 2022.
Di opulence from winning AFCON don dey buzz for dia ears, and dem wan repeat di sweet drama. “When we win, everybody for Senegal dey cry, old and young. Na best moment for our country. We dey hope to replicate dat feeling,” Diouf talk with hope.
With abegging spirit and strong football sense, our own El Hadji Malick Diouf sabi sey na im time to shine. Match day dey rush come, and we dey expect to see fire work. South Sudan, make ready for enter di hot pot!
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