Former Bristol City striker makes England World Cup admission as Senegal plot upset

Famara Diedhiou was a hero for Bristol City in his four years at Ashton Gate. The 29-year-old based himself in Knowle and has often returned to the city in which he is adored when recovering from an injury.

Sunday evening however will be a time where the majority of Robins supporters will be against Diedhiou. England and Diedhiou’s Senegal meet in the Round of 16 at the World Cup in Qatar.

The striker, who now plays in Turkey with Alanyaspor, is playing in his first World Cup and netted in the group stages. He scored against hosts Qatar, which helped them on their way to progressing.

Diedhiou will now come up against Gareth Southgate’s side hoping to progress to the Quarter-Finals, whilst ending the Three Lions’ dreams of glory. Senegal earlier this year won the Africa Cup of Nations, and could provide stern opposition.

Ahead of the match at the Al Bayt Stadium, the former Robins hero has made a prediction, whilst praising the stars of England.

“We know it is going to be a tough game,” he said. “England is one of the best teams in the world with top quality players. We will try to take our chance to go forward and to try and do our best.

“England, they want the World Cup. We’re going to try our best. It’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be a good game. Most of our players play in England. We have to do everything to push ourselves.”

Senegal - without former Liverpool star Sadio Mane, progressed to the knockout stage, despite suffering defeat to the Netherlands in their first match. They claimed a 3-1 victory over Qatar and a 2-1 win over Ecuador, which saw them finish second.

He said: “We lose our first game and after we know all together we have to get up to try and push ourselves for the last two games and that is what we did.

“It was not easy but if we try to give our best and try to push everything going forward, we know we can do it. We know our potential and that is what we did and now we are happy to face England.”