Krépin Diatta: The natural attacker who became Senegal’s reliable right back

When playing for a talented national team like Senegal, longevity is often determined by making sacrifices for the team and AS Monaco player Krépin Diatta’s decision to accept a defensive role has provided a massive boost to his club and national team career.

The Lions of Teranga player, now a regular sight at the right back position for his nation, is emerging as a standout player at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Diatta brings all the characteristics that a coach desires at the fullback position: a high work rate, a willingness to get forward in support of the attack, and dedication to fulfilling the defensive duties of his position. Most significantly in Diatta’s case, his development as an attacker earlier in his career gives him the appearance of a natural winger when making runs forward.

Of course, this change of position was not necessarily Diatta’s choice. The Dakar native was one of the most promising attackers in European club football when he joined current club AS Monaco for about €17 million midway through the 2020-21 season. 10 goals in 19 league appearances for Club Brugge during the first half of the campaign, as well as impressive performances in the UEFA Champions League and a key role in Senegal’s run to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations final, made Diatta a hot commodity who was due for a move to a major European league.

But after 16 appearances for his new club, a devastating knee injury put Diatta off the pitch for most of the following season. He eventually returned to having a regular role for Monaco but the production never reached the levels seen during his days in Belgium. Diatta was able to return to full health for the 2022 World Cup but failed to impress in an attacking role, ending his tournament in Qatar by being substituted at halftime in a decisive Round of 16 defeat to England.

Now with less explosiveness and goal production, Diatta’s positive attitude and willingness to try new positions has taken his career to a new level. It began in late 2023 with Monaco, where coach Adi Hütter began to feature the player at right back. After beginning the 2023-24 season mostly as a substitute with Monaco, Diatta showed promise at the fullback position, even being used as a left back on multiple occasions that season.

And the Senegal coach at the time, Aliou Cissé, quickly caught on to the possibility of a new defender in his squad. Diatta featured at right back throughout the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign as well as qualifying for the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations. Now in Morocco, it is clear that he has fully embraced his role.

Krépin Diatta sur son rôle de latéral – “Le pays est plus important, même si on met Gardien de but je joue” pic.twitter.com/8XVsVfHC5u

— wiwsport (@wiwsport) January 19, 2024

“The country is most important, even if they put me at goalkeeper I will play,” is how Diatta summed up his approach and mentality to the change of role in comments during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. He said it in a comedic manner, but many players will refuse such a request from coaches or will perform the role while loudly proclaiming their distaste.

But in Morocco, Diatta’s statistics show that he is more than merely a winger masquerading as a defender. This is how he ranks in several notable categories among all right backs who have played more than 200 minutes at the tournament:

Diatta is performing all the duties that attacking players are likely to shy away from such as winning defensive aerial duels. He is also showing excellent positional instincts and knows where to be during moments of transition, another area where many converted attackers struggle to adapt.

And now, Diatta has now become a player that managers pray for in their squad. A quick and technically skilled player on the ball who is also now experienced and willing to perform different roles with varying levels of defensive responsibilities.

Diatta remains a versatile player for Monaco who is moved around often. But now with Senegal, he is the right defender of the present and the future it appears. As he indicated, it appears that a stable and regular role with the national team is more than worth making the sacrifice for Diatta when it comes to playing for his nation.