2015 Africa Cup of Nations: Diafra Sakho ruled out for Senegal

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Forward Diafra Sakho is in the first year of a four-year deal at West Ham

West Ham striker Diafra Sakho is out of Senegal's final Africa Cup of Nations squad because of a back injury.

"Sakho is not on the list of 23 players, his back problem is even preventing him from moving," Senegal coach Alain Giresse announced.

The 25-year-old had been due to arrive in Dakar on Tuesday for Senegal medics to assess his recurring back problem.

He will be replaced by Pape Moussa Konate, 21, who plays for Sion in Switzerland.

Sakho, who has scored eight Premier League goals this season, suffered the latest recurrence of the back injury when he had to come off against West Bromwich Albion after scoring a goal in the 1-1 league draw on 1 January.

His manager at West Ham, Sam Allardyce, claims Sakho's injury was "mistreated" when he was on international duty with Senegal in November.

Giresse is yet to make public his final 23-man squad list for the Nations Cup.

The squad is due to travel to Morocco on Wednesday to make final preparations ahead of the Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea, which kicks off on 17 January.

While in Morocco the Teranga Lions will play two friendly matches against Gabon on 9 January and then Guinea four days later.