Stoke City striker Mame Biram Diouf has been recalled to the Senegal squad after injury and he returns to strengthen the West Africans' 24-man selection for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Bafana Bafana in Polokwane next week.

Diouf’s return comes at an opportune moment after Moussa Sow‚ who made a successful return to the team last month and scored in Senegal’s opening Group D qualifying win over the Cape Verde Islands‚ dropped out because of a buttock injury.

Senegal coach Aliou Cissé made one surprise call-up by handing the chance of a first cap to Abdullah Ndour‚ who is a 22-year-old central defender from French second division outfit Racing Strasbourg‚ where Katlego Mphela once played.

Cissé told reporters in Dakar: “The match against South Africa is very important for us‚ and although we have the Nations Cup finals (in Gabon) coming up‚ we must focus solely on the South Africa game.

"It is a meeting of two great football nations‚ a prestigious match that will be highly competitive.

"It’s an important game for us‚ a highly competitive match because Senegal wants to start well in the World Cup.”

The squad features just one home-based player and one who plays elsewhere in Africa.

The other 22 players come from European clubs and include in-form Liverpool striker Sadio Mane and exciting Lazio striker Diao Balde keita‚ who scored against the Cape Verde.

Bafana host Senegal in Polokwane on November 12.

South Africa have beaten Senegal just once in previous international clashes.

Senegal squad
Goalkeepers: Abdoulaye Diallo (Çaykur Rizespor‚ Turkey)‚ Khadim Ndiaye (Horoya‚ Guinea)‚ Pape Seydou Ndiaye (Niarry Tally)

Defenders: Saliou Ciss (Valenciennes‚ France)‚ Fallou Diagne (Werder Bremen‚ Germany)‚ Lamine Gassama (Alanyspor‚ Turkey)‚ Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli‚ Italy)‚ Ibrahima Mbaye (Bologna‚ Italy)‚ Kara Mbodj (Anderlecht‚ Belgium)‚ Abdallah Ndour (Racing Strasbourg‚ France)‚ Zargo Toure (Lorient‚ France)

Midfielders: Moumhamed Diamé (Newcastle United‚ England)‚ Pape Kouly Diop (Espanyol‚ Spain)‚ Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton‚ England)‚ Cheikhou Kouyaté (West Ham United‚ England)‚ Pape Alioune Ndiaye (Osmanlispor‚ Turkey)‚ Cheikh Ndoye (Angers‚ France)‚ Younouss Sankharé (Lille‚ France)

Forwards: Famara Diedhou (Angers‚ France)‚ Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke City‚ England). Diao Baldé Keita (Lazio‚ Italy)‚ Moussa Konate (Sion‚ Switzerland)‚ Sadio Mané (Liverpool‚ England)‚ Ismaila Sarr (Metz‚ France). - TMG Digital