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Alberto Pizzoli via Getty Images Como head coach Cesc Fabregas is in a dispute with the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) regarding their inclusion of forward Assane Diao in their squad for the Africa Cup of Nations. Diao, 20, has made just seven appearances this campaign due to recurring injury issues, namely with his foot and hamstring. He started his side’s 1-0 Serie A defeat by Roma on Monday but had to come off after 37 minutes. Advertisement Speaking to Sky Italia Fabregas, 38, criticised Diao’s inclusion in the Senegal squad, while admitting that the winger “probably shouldn’t have played” against Roma, but thought it was worth taking “the risk” as he would be unavailable for Como in the coming weeks due to his AFCON commitments. Reports from Senegal have suggested that Diao, like Anderlecht right-back Ilay Camara, will now miss AFCON due to injury. Senegal confirmed on Tuesday that Camara, 22, has been replaced by Mamadou Lamine Camara, who plays for Moroccan club RS Berkane. However, they have not announced if Diao has been dropped from the squad. “Assane injured his flexor while making that run on goal, ” Fabregas said following Monday’s defeat. “Sometimes as a coach, you say something and then get slaughtered for it. I talk with passion and say what comes naturally to me. I’ve been very clear. I’m a big fan of international football. All of my players are international players, I think. Playing for the national team is the best thing for a player. “I asked (Senegal), please, for some common sense, to not take him because he has played three games in eight months, a bit here, a bit there after playing a full game against Napoli. He then went away on international duty, got injured, was out for a month, and came back now. It happens. “I’m sorry for the boy because today (against Roma), he probably shouldn’t have played either. Tomorrow, he was supposed to go away on international duty, be away for five weeks and since we’re the ones paying his salary, we might as well take a risk and play him a little. ” When asked about speaking with Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw, Fabregas said: “He told me that if he (Diao) doesn’t go away with the team, now he won’t go to the World Cup. I didn’t like that. It wasn’t a pleasant conversation. Advertisement “When you play on the fears of the player, that’s wrong. He is 20 and has his entire career ahead of him. I don’t think it’s right, honestly. ” The FSF did not respond to The Athletic’s request for comment on Fabregas’ comments or for confirmation on Diao’s status. Diao also suffered a broken metatarsal injury in May, an issue that kept him out for several months. He had only recently returned from a hamstring injury, which sidelined him for two league matches in November. Despite being subbed off due to injury on Monday, Diao was named in Thiaw’s AFCON squad later in the day. Nigeria and DR Congo have also had similar issues with important players. Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina and Newcastle United’s Yoane Wissa both sustained long-term injuries in September while representing their respective countries and neither were selected for AFCON, with the latter writing on social media: “I’ll be (Congo’s) number one supporter! Big up to the family. ” Wissa, who joined Newcastle from Brentford for £55million ($73. 7m) in the summer transfer window, had not featured for his new club due to a knee injury when the squad was announced, but has now appeared in his side’s last three games and scored his first goal on Wednesday. Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (Al Ahli), Yehvann Diouf (Nice), Mory Diaw (Le Havre) Defenders: Krepin Diatta (AS Monaco), Antoine Mendy (Nice), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa), Moussa Niakhate (Lyon), Mamadou Sarr (Strasbourg), El Hadji Malick Diouf (West Ham), Ismail Jakobs (Galatasaray)     Midfielders: Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton), Habib Diarra (Sunderland), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham Hotspur), Pape Alassane Gueye (Villarreal), Lamine Camara (Monaco), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano) Forwards: Sadio Mane (Al Nassr), Iliman Ndiaye (Everton), Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich), Habib Diallo (Metz), Boulaye Dia (Lazio), Cheikh Sabaly (Metz), Assane Diao (Como), Ibrahim Mbaye (PSG), Cherif Ndiaye (Samsunspor), Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace) Nnamdi Onyeagwara joined us in November 2022, initially helping us cover the World Cup before becoming a Junior News Editor in January 2023. Born in North London, Nnamdi attended Nottingham Trent University and previously worked at The Voice and the Barnet Post. Follow Nnamdi on Twitter @nnamdionye