West Ham star El-Hadji Malick Diouf was a second-half substitute in Senegal’s 3-2 defeat to the United States on Sunday.
Senegal lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Galatasaray’s Ismail Jakobs starting ahead of the Hammers’ left-back.
Diouf failed to prevent Senegal from losing to Mauricio Pochettino’s USA when he came on, but he still made a significant impact.
Here’s why West Ham are the real winners following Diouf’s second-half cameo ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
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West Ham handed boost as Malick Diouf shines against USA
Jakobs struggled in the first half of Senegal’s defeat to the USA before head coach Pape Thiaw substituted him at half-time.
The Galatasaray defender could not contain Sergio Dest and Giovanni Reyna on the United States’ right side.
Dest scored the USA’s first goal after just seven minutes, after he beat Jakobs to Christian Pulisic’s dangerous low cross.
Having failed to impress Thiaw, Jakobs was replaced by West Ham’s Malick Diouf before the second half in North Carolina.
Diouf’s athleticism and crossing made a noticeable difference, with many Senegalese fans praising him on social media.
He quashed any concerns over whether he should be Senegal’s first-choice left-back for the World Cup this summer.
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This is also excellent news for West Ham, as they will be looking to sell Diouf when the transfer window opens.
The Hammers reportedly need to raise upwards of £150 million from player sales after their relegation to the Championship.
Diouf is already one of their most prized assets, but his value could rise exponentially if he performs well at the World Cup.
A few strong displays against tough opponents will likely convince some top clubs to take a chance on the 21-year-old.
West Ham’s £19m signing from Slavia Prague could soon be sold for more than double that price tag, just 12 months later.
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