Abdallah Sima: Senegal Star Warms up For AFCON with Ourageous Goal for Rangers

• Senegal’s Abdallah Sima was on target for his club on Tuesday
• His goal helped Rangers beat Kilmarnock 3-1 in the Scottish Premier League
• Sima is one of the players to watch in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations

Senegal star Abdallah Sima gave fans a glimpse of what he can offer the Lions of Teranga as he scored a brilliant goal for Rangers on Tuesday, January 2.

Rangers, chasing Celtic in the Scottish Premier League title race, came up against Kilmarnock in a must-win game if they hoped to close the gap on the leaders.

Ross McCausland fired the hosts into the lead in the 41st minute, and four minutes later, Sima made it 2-0 with an inventive strike.

The forward received a long ball, which he expertly chested high, turning the defender inside out before firing a powerful volley past the goalkeeper.

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Kilmarnock pulled a goal back through Danny Armstrong early in the second half, but Rangers restored their lead minutes later through former Norwich City midfielder Todd Cantwell.

According to BBC, the win took Rangers to 46 points on the log, eight points behind Celtic, who have played two games more.

Sima’s AFCON departure a blow to Rangers

To say Sima’s absence from the Rangers squad as he is away representing Senegal would be an understatement.

The Brighton loanee has been in fine form since moving to Glasgow, and, according to Transfermarkt is the club’s current top scorer this season with 10 goals.

Highlights of the 22-year-old show he is the perfect mix of pace, power and the incredible ability to find the net when it matters.

Rangers boss Philippe Clement was among the first people to admit the club would surely miss the services of their star loanee for the five games he will be away on international duty.

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"As a club, as a manager, nothing to do to go against it, it's strange to have a tournament during a season. We're not the only team in the world in that way also so it's things you need to accept and to be happy for him that he gets the respect out of his country and he deserves it,” he said as quoted by Rangers Review.

Senegal’s AFCON group

Alliou Cisse’s side is the defending champion, having won the tournament in Yaoundé in 2022.

However, their title defence will not be straightforward as they are in a daunting group comprising Cameroon, Guinea and Gambia.

Their first game is against Gambia on Monday, January 15.

Salah on AFCON ambitions

Sports Brief also reported on Mohamed Salah and his ambitions ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The 31-year-old will join his Egypt teammates for preparations ahead of the tournament in Ivory Coast this week.

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Salah reached the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations twice with the Pharaohs, losing to Cameroon in 2017 and most recently to Senegal in 2021.