Aliou Cissé, who announced his squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals on Friday, was quick to lash out in a press conference.
Asked about the composition and depth of his squad, the Lions’ coach responded vehemently.
“We’re not afraid. We’re going to this CAN with many, many ambitions. We’re African champions and, at times, people talk about our team as if we’d done nothing! I think the Senegalese team deserves a little more consideration,” pleaded the coach.
If we, with everything we’ve achieved, go to this CAN with no confidence in ourselves, I don’t know what African team is going to have confidence in itself.
Avoid putting unnecessary pressure on the coach and the players. We expect you to do that, not to create doubt. The message got through.
Senegal eagerly awaited
As holders of the title following their victory over Egypt at the last edition in 2022 (0-0, 4 tab to 2), expectations are high for the Lions ahead of the prestigious continental tournament.
Sadio Mané’s team will be doing their utmost to assume the role of favourites, which is not always easy to pull off.
The proof is in the pudding: since the Pharaohs won the tournament three times in a row (2006, 2008, 2010), no African team has managed to win the Holy Grail twice in a row.
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