Senegal’s M’Baye Niang Told to Step Up, Cease Time-Wasting

Rennes’ forward M’Baye Niang has been asked to step up and cease wasting time by Taranga Lions’ gaffer Aliou Cisse.

A former captain of the Senegalese outfit that reached the 2002 quarter-finals, Aliou revealed he took it upon himself to deliver the sermon to the player face to face as he anticipates the former AC Milan’s starlet ring to change in his game.

“Mbaye is a boy who has quality. He must continue to work (hard). I had to tell him face to face. He has a lot of potential,” the 41-year-old ex-midfield hard-man, said ahead of the Lions’ crucial tie with Equatorial Guinea tomorrow.

The coach’s remarks followed the player’s low return on goals after scoring only once in seven appearances – a thing that has also seen club side Rennes slipping down to 12^th place in the French Ligue1.

Internationally, the 23-year-old last scored for the West African nation in October in the 3-0 romping of bottom-placed Sudan in the Afcon qualifiers.

“He is an exceptional footballer. He must help his club out of this red zone. He must be the scorer of Rennes, but also that of the national team of Senegal. He must be aware of his qualities and stop wasting time,” Cisse said.

The onus of delivering the points now appears to rest on the centre-forward, given Moussa Sow and Diafra Sakho have all technically retired following a spat with the gaffer in the immediate aftermath of Senegal’s exit in the World Cup.