With just a few days to go before the FIFA international break, Senegal are preparing for two important friendlies.
For Aliou Cissé, this is the time to test new players and, above all, to establish a new dynamic for the big matches to come. Ahead of the list of players, a talent from France’s Ligue 1 opened the door for the Lions of Teranga.
After the fiasco of the 2023 African Cup of Nations, the 2021 African champions want to get back on track. With this in mind, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), led by Augustin Senghor, has made the bold choice to continue with Aliou Cissé. Criticised for his tactical choices during the last Africa Cup of Nations, the 47-year-old coach has the backing of his bosses to continue the work he began in 2015. Recently extended at the helm of the Lions of Teranga, the former defender will have to rework the squad by bringing in and dropping players. If he is looking for players to bolster the squad, he has just picked up an interesting lead.
Il y a 9 ans, en mars 2015, Aliou Cissé devenait le nouveau sélectionneur du Sénégal. 🇸🇳
— 🏆 Actu Foot Afrique (@ActuFootAfrique) March 8, 2024
94 matchs
60 victoires ✅
21 nuls ➖
13 défaites ❌
1 CAN 🏆
1 finale perdue 🙁
2 participations CDM – 1/8 de finale 👥
La longévité et la constance, impressionnante. 🪄 pic.twitter.com/VJesfNnGe1
A new contender for Edouard Mendy emerges
Stade de Reims goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf (24) has opened the door wide for the Senegalese national team. An impressive goalkeeper for the Ligue 1 club, currently ranked 9th with 35 points, the native of Montreuil (France) says he is ready to join the Lions of Teranga. In a statement made in Taggat and relayed by Wiwsport, Yehvann Diouf (62 matches for Reims since 2019) spoke of his links with Senegal. “I’m as much French as I am Senegalese. I have strong links with Senegal, I have family there and I try to go there often. I haven’t had any contact [with the FSF], but I’m open to anything.”
Having played for France’s U18, U19 and U20 teams, the goalkeeper from Reims knows how difficult it is to find a place in the senior team of Les Bleus de France. At the age of 24, it is easy to understand why he has opted for Senegal, where there is clearly plenty of room. Currently occupied by Edouard Mendy, the position of goalkeeper for the Lions of Teranga could fall to the young Rémois, who excels in Ligue 1. With this statement, Aliou Cissé now has a boulevard in front of him and could therefore summon the FSF to put the wheels in motion to finalise the arrival of the goalkeeper from Rémois.
An opportunity to be seized?
Senegal remains a great footballing nation with a wealth of talent. However, the national team is ageing, with key players such as Sadio Mané (struggling at Al Nassr), Kalidou Koulibaly, Gana Gueye and Edouard Mendy reaching the end of their international careers. There are only goalkeepers in their thirties. At the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, which was the national team’s last training camp, the three goalkeepers present were all aged 30 or over (Mory Diaw, Alfred Gomis and Mendy, 32).
With Yehvann Diouf’s call-up, Aliou Cissé can jump at the chance to start integrating the 24-year-old. Excellent on his feet and on his line, the Reims goalkeeper could become a real asset for the Lions of Teranga in the future, especially given that the team is renewing itself with youngsters like Pape Gueye, Lamine Camara, Pape Matar Sarr and Niakhaté. In any case, there is room for Yehvann Diouf. The young goalkeeper began his professional career in 2016 with Troyes, having previously played for Champigny and US Créteil. His current market value is in excess of €9 million.
Do you think Senegal need Yehvann Diouf?
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