French-born Bouna Sarr rejects offer to represent Senegal at World Cup
The defender, born in France to a Senegalese father and a Guinean mother, rejected an offer to play for the Lions of Teranga.
Olympique de Marseille star Bouna Sarr has officially rejected an offer to represent Senegal at this summer's World Cup finals in Russia. Born in France to a Senegalese father and a Guinean mother, the 26-year-old defender has pledged his allegiance to Les Blues. Back in 2015, Sarr turned down an offer to represent Guinea at that year’s Africa Cup of Nations. As he has not represented the country of his birth at any level, the defender remains eligible for a switch of international allegiance.
"It’s France and nothing else" – Sarr
Talking to French radio station RMC, the Marseille player explained why he declined the Senegalese FA offer. "It's France and nothing else, nothing else is a big word, but I always dreamed of playing for the France team. I'm French, I was born here I only have an attraction for the Blues".
Since joining Marseille in 2015, he has scored six goals in 106 games for the south coast side - including one in Thursday's Europa League semi-final return leg. At the World Cup, Senegal have been zoned in Group H alongside Poland, Colombia and Japan. Their campaign begins on 19 June against the Polish national side at the Otkritie Arena in Moscow.