West Ham United’s Senegalese striker Diafra Sakho has been ruled out of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations with a back injury.

The 25-year old was expected in Dakar on Tuesday, to have his recurrent back problem assessed by Senegal’s medical staff.

However, the player was unable to travel to join the rest of the squad in the country’s capital prior to their departure to El Jadida, Morocco this Wednesday.

“They told us he was unable to travel because of his back problem,” Lions’ coach Alain Giresse said.

“So we cannot take him.”

This is a big blow for Senegal, who called up FC Sion striker Pape Moussa Konaté as a replacement for the injured Sakho.

The Lions will face Gabon on January 9 and Guinea four days later in Casablanca in warm-up friendlies, before kicking off their continental campaign against Ghana in Mongomo on January 19.

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