After a prolonged absence from the field, Djibril Diaw, 29-year-old Senegalese defender, finally made his league debut with Bordeaux last Saturday against Saint-Brieuc. This six and a half month wait was marked by administrative complications with his former club, FK Lviv, where he was under contract until June.
The previous Sunday, he had already made his return to competition during the Coupe de France match against Les Herbiers. “Competing has nothing to do with training. At this level there is a lot of racing. Physically, you have to get back up to speed, » confided Diaw in an interview with Ouest-France. Djibril Diaw underlined the decisive impact of Aliou Cissé in his career. Starting out as an attacker, it was under the direction of the former Lions coach, then coach of the Senegalese U23s, that he was repositioned as a central defender. “ When I was a child, I played as a striker. It was Aliou Cissé who repositioned me as a central defender. We had a fantastic generation,” saidhe declared.
With this golden generation, the Senegalese international won gold at the African Games and participated in the Olympic qualifications, marked by a semi-final against Victor Osimhen’s Nigeria. His first cape with the Lions of the A selection remains engraved in his memory. Called up to replace the injured Kalidou Koulibaly, Djibril Diaw started as left back against Mali in 2019. “Cwas one of the proudest moments of my career, » he confided, after contributing to a 2-1 victory. Today, Djibril Diaw sees Bordeaux as a chance to relaunch his career. After a long period without competition, he is determined to find his best level and establish himself with the Girondins.
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Senegal
