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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Mark Walker

Abdallah Sima wins Senegal player of the month award ahead of African Cup of Nations

Rangers star Abdallah Sima has been named as Senegal's Player of the Month after a string of impressive displays for the Ibrox side.

The on loan Brighton ace is preparing for the start of the African Cup of Nations with Aliou Cisse's team, who play Gambia, Cameroon and Guinea during the group stages in Ivory Coast.

Sima scored five goals during the month of December - a double against St Mirren and goals against Hearts, Dundee and Real Betis in the Europa League.

He signed off for the winter break by scoring a screamer against Kilmarnock last week too.

And he's been named as Senegal's Player of the Month for December, ahead of former Liverpool and Bayern Munich star Sadio Mane who now plays for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.

Former Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy, who now also plays in Saudi Arabia with Al Ahli, was third. Sima has scored 15 goals for Rangers in all competitions in 33 appearances since joining on loan from the Premier League side.

Meanwhile, Alfredo Morelos has agreed to take a bumper 50 per cent pay cut to stay and try and help Santos return to the top flight in Brazil.

The former Rangers striker's move to Santos has been a disaster so far after they were relegated for the first time in their 111-year history.

He has been plagued by injuries and only played 76 minutes and made one start since joining in August and failed to score a single goal as Pele's old club went down.

Santos agreed to allow Morelos to leave for nothing if he could find a new club and there were even suggestions the three-year contract would be ripped up, although there was little interest in the 27-year-old.

But after talks between the club, player and agent Martin Camono, reports in South America have revealed that Morelos has agreed to reduce his £40,000-a-week wages to £20,000 so he can stay at the club.

He rejoined the club this week for their pre-season training and reported fit.

And the Colombian is set to resume his career as Santos play in Serie B for the first time, with four clubs promoted back to the top flight.

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