Saliou Ciss has been replaced in Senegal’s squad after failing to recover from an ankle injury in time to play at the World Cup.

Ciss sustained the injury in Senegal’s 0-0 draw against Luxembourg on May 31 and failed to recover in time to be in contention for their World Cup Group H opener against Poland on Tuesday.

Coach Aliou Cisse opted to take advantage of FIFA’s rule that allows teams to call up a replacement until 24 hours before their first game at the tournament, having recognised that the Angers left-back was not going to regain full fitness in time.

Senegal will face Japan and Colombia in their other group games as they aim to reach the knockout stages, as they did in their only previous participation in 2002.

2002 World Cup: Senegal 1-0 France

“From World Cup Heroes to Zeros.”

CC: @FootballSenegal; @equipedefrance; @coachaliou; #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/0kR0WhvTcH

— Daniel Maguire (@Lord_Morgan87) June 11, 2018