Cissokho turns down Sengal

Lyon left-back will try and earn France call-up

By Giscard Gourizro   Last updated: 3rd October 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Cissokho turns down Sengal

Cissokho: Senegal snub

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Lyon full-back Aly Cissokho has chosen to try and win a place in the France squad rather than play for Senegal.

The 22-year-old was born in France but has Senegalese heritage and is eligible to play for either country.

But despite being approached by the Senegal set-up, he says a snub in the past has left him unwilling to commit to their national team.

"I have been contacted by Senegal already (but) for the moment it is Lyon and nothing else," Cissokho said.

"I love the France national football team. I grew up here and know the meaning of playing for one of the top nations in football.

"When I was at Gueugnon, I wanted to play for Senegal, and it was not a good experience. They lost my passport and told me they only want to use players in the country. I never heard from them till I played for Porto."

Happy

Cissokho switched from the Portuguese giants to Lyon over the summer and has become a regular starter in the opening games of the season.

The former AC Milan target says he has settled into life well at his new club and has already set his sights on regaining the title from reigning champions Bordeaux.

"Lyon is an amazing club, I am proud to wear their shirt," Cissokho told skysports.com.

"Hopefully we will win back our title, the competition is tough but we will be there and we have great players here.

"I am settling well, I was very shy during games at the start, I was just defending not going forward too much.

"But now it is fine, I am getting to know my friends better, we started well in the league and the Champions League and (long) may that continue."

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