Defending champions of the Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal will be aiming to double their tally at the tournament to be held in Côte d’Ivoire in the coming weeks.
Speaking to the press on Friday as part of the unveiling of his team’s shortlist, Aliou Cissé confirmed his team’s determination to win, despite the curse of being champions of the tournament.
Since Egypt’s historic treble in 2006, 2008 and 2010, none of the defending African Cup of Nations champions has managed the double at the next edition. But after their first-ever title in 2021, and two consecutive finals, Senegal are dreaming of another moment of glory.
A few weeks ahead of the CAN in Côte d’Ivoire (January 13-February 11), Aliou Cissé outlined his team’s ambitions on Friday.
“I’m neither God nor a prophet. I’m a coach and I don’t have a magic wand to change things. The only thing I can do today is to do my best.
The only thing we can do is our best,” he assured the press conference. “And that’s what we’re doing. Whenever there are important deadlines, as you know, we’ll always do our best.”
With Sadio Mané back in the spotlight after his summer transfer to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, Senegal have their attacking star back. Alongside him, Marseille’s Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr will be keen to lift the coveted trophy. For Aliou Cissé, despite the 2021 crown, his squad is not satisfied.
“There are questions to be asked about this curse. Is this Senegalese team sleeping on its laurels? Is this Senegal team sleeping on its achievements?” added the coach of the Lions of Teranga.
Before highlighting Senegal’s track record in comparison with other African teams: “When I see Egypt today, they’ll soon be doing the rounds of the logo (the number of stars on the jersey, editor’s note). We’ve only got one star, and we want to win. And keep on winning… keep on winning.”
“A group with a wealth of experience”.
Eighth-place finalists at the 2022 World Cup and eliminated by England ahead of a possible showdown with France, Senegal were robbed of the limelight by Morocco when the Atlas Lions became the first African players to qualify for the last four of a World Cup. The CAN 2024 will allow Aliou Cissé’s protégés to return to the top of the continental hierarchy.
“We know that there are ingredients you have to put into this competition to win it. But as I said, if you look at our list, we have a lot of players with experience or who are playing in their third or fourth CAN,” added Cissé. “It’s not a group of novices, it’s a group with an enormous amount of experience.”
Assumed favourite status
With the return of Sadio Mané, the former Liverpool and Bayern player who missed out on the World Cup, Senegal have put the fear of God back into all their African rivals, and have an ambitious squad to face Cameroon, Guinea and Gambia in the first round of the CAN.
“Now, yes, we know we’re expected. It’s normal to be expected. Even before winning the trophy, Senegal was expected,” continued Aliou Cissé confidently.
“I was going to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, after two editions where Senegal didn’t get out of the group stages, we were already the favorites.”
He concludes: “In 2019, we were also the favourites. Now that we’ve won the cup, of course we’ll be among the favourites.
We’re not shirking that responsibility. But what’s important is that we’ve got enough experience and that our players arrive in the right conditions. From then on, I think we’ll have our say, but we’ll do it calmly and serenely.”
Leave a Reply