Demba Ba
Shanghai Shenhua striker Demba Ba has given up all hope of international call-up with Senegal after repeated omissions by coach Aliou Cisse.
Ba, 33, has not played for his country since March 2015 and admits it is unlikely he will be picked while Cisse remains at the helm.
“I’ve turned the page and I don’t have a space for the national team in my head,” China-based Ba told Senegalese publication Record.
“I saw the course of events leading up to being snubbed and ignored by coach Aliou Cisse. He simply cast me aside without talking to me.
“So I just concluded that it’s okay and right now the national team is no longer in my thoughts.”
Born in France, Ba has four goals in 22 appearances for Senegal and played for the Teranga Lions at the 2012 African Cup of Nations.
Senegal are currently top of their 2019 Nations Cup qualifying group but Ba remains pessimistic about their chances.
“I do not think that Senegal can win anything in 2019. And I hope I’m wrong,” he said.
The striker has scored four goals and added an assist in 11 matches in the Chinese Super League since returning to China from Turkey.