Newcastle duo Ba and Cisse may not go to Olympics

Posted Tuesday, April 24, 2012 by xinhuanet.com

Newcastle United striker pair Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba may not be called up to the Senegal Olympic squad, according to assistant manager Alou Cisse.

The African nation booked its place at the competition with 2-0 playoff win over Oman in Coventry on Monday evening and will have the option of selecting three players over the age of 23.

Toon top scorer Ba, and Cisse, who has 11 goals in 10 games, are obvious choices for Senegal, but Alou Cisse insists they are not certainties.

“It is important to play with the best team you can but I can’t say whether they will be involved,” he said after the game. “There are others who may come into the reckoning. It is true we are permitted to have three overage players under the rules. Let us not forget the players who have been in the team that has got us there.

“They are the ones who deserve to play in the tournament this summer, which is a historic even for our country.”

It is the first time that Senegal has been involved in the Olympic football competition and the team is pitted against Great Britain, Uruguay and UAE in Group A.

The tournament clashes with the Europa League qualifiers, but fourth-placed Newcastle will be hoping that it can secure Champions League football instead.