Como head coach Cesc Fabregas has explained his decision to leave out Senegal striker Assane Diao for their 2-1 Serie A win against Cagliari at Unipol Domus on Saturday.

Despite making two substitute appearances for Como since returning from injury and being called up to face Cagliari, Diao was not included in Lariani’s matchday squad.

The Lion of Teranga was dropped to the stands as Como registered their 14th victory of the campaign to move fourth on the table.

‘We don’t want to take any risks’

“He trained very well for the last two weeks. Yesterday (Friday), he wasn’t feeling well,” Fabregas told Como website.

“We brought him in, we called him up, but we did a trial (this Saturday morning) to see how he felt. He’s not ready.

“We don’t want to take any risks. It’s nothing serious, nothing major, but since it’s the final stretch of the season, we want everyone to be healthy and we don’t want to put anyone at risk.”

Diao missed 2025 AFCON owing to injury

A hamstring injury had forced Diao to withdraw from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, and sidelined him for nearly three months.

But the 20-year-old returned to the pitch against Lecce (3-1) in Serie A on February 28, where his coach was quick to highlight his qualities .

This brief appearance was followed by around twenty minutes in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final against Inter Milan (0-0).

Diao has been plagued by injuries since April 2025, a situation that has limited him to just six matches without a goal.

On 7 January 2025, Betis announced Diao’s transfer to Como in a deal reported to be in the region of €12 million. Born in Senegal, Diao represented Spain at the U-18, U-19 and the U-21 before opting to switch allegiance back to his homeland.

He has made two appearances for Senegal and is yet to score for the two-time African champions.

Assane Diao: Fabregas explains why Como left Senegal striker out of Cagliari win

Como head coach Cesc Fabregas has explained the decision to leave Senegal striker Assane Diao out of the squad during their 2-1 Serie A victory over Cagliari at the Unipol Domus on Saturday.

Despite recently returning from injury and making two substitute appearances, the young forward was not included in Como’s matchday squad for the important league encounter. Instead, the Lion of Teranga watched the match from the stands as Como secured their 14th victory of the Serie A campaign.

The win helped the Lariani climb to fourth place in the league table, continuing their impressive run of form this season.

Assane Diao left out to avoid injury risk

Fabregas revealed that the decision to leave Assane Diao out of the squad was purely precautionary. According to the Spanish coach, the striker had trained well during the week but felt unwell shortly before the match.

“We brought him in, we called him up, but we did a trial this morning to see how he felt,” Fabregas told the club’s official website.

“He trained very well for the last two weeks. Yesterday he wasn’t feeling well and today we decided not to take any risks.”

Fabregas emphasized that the decision was made with the long-term health of the player in mind, especially as the season approaches its crucial final stretch.

“We don’t want to take any risks. It’s nothing serious, nothing major, but since it’s the final stretch of the season, we want everyone to be healthy and we don’t want to put anyone at risk,” he added.

Assane Diao recently returned from injury

The absence of Assane Diao comes shortly after the striker returned from a lengthy injury spell. A hamstring injury had previously forced the Senegal international to withdraw from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

The injury kept the young attacker sidelined for nearly three months, slowing down his development during an important stage of his career.

Diao eventually made his return to competitive action on February 28, coming off the bench in Como’s 3-1 Serie A victory over Lecce. The match marked his first appearance since recovering from the hamstring issue.

Following that comeback, he also featured briefly in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final against Inter Milan, which ended in a goalless draw.

Although his minutes have been limited since returning, Fabregas has previously praised the striker’s potential and ability on the pitch.

Injury struggles have limited Assane Diao’s impact

Since April 2025, Assane Diao has struggled with recurring injury problems that have affected his playing time. As a result, the young forward has only managed six appearances this season and is still searching for his first goal in Como colours.

The lack of consistent playing time has been frustrating for both the player and the coaching staff, especially considering the promise he showed earlier in his career.

Nevertheless, Como remain patient with the Senegal international as they believe he has the potential to become an important part of the squad once he regains full fitness.

Assane Diao’s journey from Spain to Senegal

On 7 January 2025, Spanish club Real Betis confirmed the transfer of Assane Diao to Como in a deal reportedly worth around €12 million.

Born in Senegal but raised in Spain, Diao initially represented Spain at youth level, featuring for the U-18, U-19 and U-21 national teams.

However, the talented forward later decided to switch his international allegiance and represent Senegal at senior level.

So far, he has made two appearances for the Senegal national team, although he is yet to score for the two-time African champions.

With his return from injury and Como’s strong position in Serie A, both the club and Senegal fans will hope that Assane Diao can soon regain full fitness and begin to show his attacking potential on a consistent basis.