Assane Diao gutted to miss AFCON after Como return

Senegal striker Assane Diao admitted to being disappointed after he missed the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco owing to injury.

The young Lion of Teranga returned to action in Como’s 3-1 victory against Lecce on Saturday. Diao played the remainder of the match and could have scored his first goal in almost a year in the 86th minute.

Assane Diao vs Lecce

5 minutes pic.twitter.com/x7cvFY31J0

— 🇸🇳🎥⭐️⭐️ (@SenegalComps) February 28, 2026

‘I hope to score next game’

Speaking after the game, he said: “It’s been a long time, but thank God, I’m back. I’m happy to be with the team and I almost scored,” Diao said as quoted by WiwiSport.

“I hope I can do it next time, but I’m happy to be back and to help the team. I was able to play a few minutes today. I needed it, and it had been a long time since I’d played, since December. I need to gradually get back into the rhythm with the team, but I’m happy to have played this match.”

‘I hope to be at the World Cup’

On missing the AFCON in Morocco, he said: “I’m disappointed I couldn’t go with my teammates, but in the end, they won, and I feel like I won too. I want to thank all the Senegalese and Como fans for their support.

“And I hope to be at the World Cup. Como? The team is improving, even compared to last season. We’re a bit higher in the standings now, but the most important thing is to keep improving match by match.”

After the game, Como’s coach Cesc Fabregas, said on Diao: “In five minutes, we saw what we’ve been missing for 11 months, and we hope to see him back in top form soon.”

Born in Senegal, Diao moved to Spain at the age of three and has dual citizenship. He played for the nation’s U-19 team at the 2023 UEFA European U-19 Championship.

In 2025, Diao’s request to switch international allegiance to Senegal was approved by FIFA.