Head coach of Serie A side Como, Cesc Fàbregas, has come under fire following a late injury to Senegalese midfielder Assane Diao during the club’s 1-0 defeat to AS Roma on December 15, 2025.
The former Arsenal captain had earlier stated that the Senegal winger should not go to the tournament, calling it “illogical.” Diao moved to Italy in January 2025 from Real Betis, scoring eight goals and providing one assist in 15 Serie A appearances last season.
In April, Diao suffered a broken foot and missed the final five Serie A fixtures of the campaign, as well as the early stages of the 2025/26 season.
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He made a comeback in late October 2026 but later picked up an adductor injury. Despite this, he participated in two training sessions with Senegal, only to suffer another setback and return to Italy in November.
In his last match before departing to join the AFCON squad, Diao sustained a fresh injury that has now ruled him out of the tournament.
Following the news, Senegalese fans flooded the comment section under Fàbregas’ latest Instagram post with offensive messages and emojis to express their anger.
Some frustrated supporters argued that the former Barcelona midfielder’s handling of an already injured player ahead of a major tournament shows a lack of respect for AFCON and the African continent.
Others questioned his coaching credentials and player‑management skills, especially regarding how he handled a situation that required protecting a national‑team player.
However, some fans defended the Como coach, slamming the Senegalese supporters for being racist regarding their comments and the usage of certain emojis.
Read the comments below:
This is racist. Let's call it what it is. https://t.co/9xV3j2INd2
— Jidechi J. Chidiezie (@Jidechi_) December 16, 2025
Bunch of racists https://t.co/pke1NNVTd8
— Zaka🇲🇦 (@zak_ske1) December 16, 2025
Crying bro this is the first time I’ve see a categorically white person get emoji’s spammed in their comments https://t.co/ddnKXcOXqZ
— Chihiro Yamanaka Enjoyer #FlickOut (@navybluenjoyer) December 16, 2025
German and Bayern fans do this to kompany too for using musiala after coming from injury … don’t make it African thing https://t.co/icA7Ag0CmP
— Evan____ (@Evan__NA) December 16, 2025
Cesc Fabregas : « He ( Diao) probably shouldn’t have played today either, but I picked him because he’s leaving tomorrow and I won’t have him for five weeks, so since we’re paying his wages, we might as well let him play a bit for us »
— 𝐏𝐚𝐚 𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐨𝐮 🇸🇳🇩🇪 (@Paadoudout) December 15, 2025
This is disgusting pic.twitter.com/TA8U7CwJqg
Outrageous.
— TSUMA (@tsumaa11) December 16, 2025
Club that pays player expects him to play for the club that pays him. FUCKING AWFUL 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Look at what Senegalese fans are doing under Fàbregas' latest post on Instagram cos their player, Assane Diao got injured while playing for Como last night against Roma.
— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) December 16, 2025
A SH@ME. pic.twitter.com/1k5MRYYVIU
Black people are racist too, and this is the evidence.
— Eme (@OppNaija) December 16, 2025
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