Considered one of the favorites of the next CAN, Senegal is not reassuring especially after its two draws against Congo (0-0) and Eswatini (1-1), during the last two days of the qualifiers. Despite the qualification, the master on board Aliou Cissé is criticized. At 9 months of the CAN, the technician must correct the aim to achieve the set objective which is to win the trophy.

In six years of presence on the bench of the Lions, Aliou Cissé has not completely convinced a large part of the Senegalese public opinion. And this despite its rather flattering results in terms of accounting: CAN quarter-final in 2017, World Cup in 2018, CAN final in 2019, not to mention the first African place in the FIFA rankings held for nearly 3 years. To this, we must add the three qualifications in a row in the finals of CAN: 2017, 2019 and 2021.

But these stats are only the tree that hides the immense forest of limits of the Senegalese technician. Because the game offered by his team leaves much to be desired. It is, in any case, far from unanimous. Hence the fears of several observers to see the Sadio Mané gang again break their teeth in the most important meetings. Everyone is already thinking about the next CAN.

“Aliou Cissé has reached his limits “

Yet Senegal has enormous potential on all fronts. We can cite Edouard Mendy (Chelsea), Kalidou Koulibaly (Naples), Abdou Diallo (PSG), Idrissa Gana Guèye (PSG), Sadio Mané (Liverpool), Krépin Diatta (Monaco), Diao Baldé Keïta (Sampdoria). But Cissé is still unable to use them consistently.

His fetish system, the 4-3-3, showed certain limits against Cameroon (CAN 2017) and against Algeria in the final of the CAN 2019. And the 3-5-2 experienced during the international window that has just ended. closing it leaves you perplexed. The players seemed disoriented in the Congo and even in Thiès where the Lions had previously reigned supreme.

On a private radio, the president of the National Association of the Sports Press of Senegal, Abdoulaye Thiam suggests: “  In 2017, we had to win the trophy. We did not succeed because Cissé is cautious. He failed miserably against the worst Cameroonian team in history. In 2019, we come across Algeria which beats us in a group and in the final. He never found the solutions. We almost had the same situation against Eswatini. Aliou Cissé has reached his limits  ”.

”  Correct before it’s too late  “

As we already know, relations between Aliou Cissé and the Senegalese press are not the most cordial. Journalists notably castigate his choices and his refusal to summon certain players playing in the Gulf such as Pape Alioune Ndiaye (Al-Ain FC) or Mbaye Niang (Al Ahli SC). “ Aliou Cissé is paid with the money of the Senegalese taxpayer. The Senegalese Federation must strengthen its staff or put things right. We are not asking him to do the impossible but just to take the best Senegalese players of the moment. Why he refuses to take players playing in Qatar when the best Fennec of the moment, Baghdad Bounedjah, plays at Al-Saad Sports Club (Qatar). He must stop and face it, ”adds Abdoulaye Thiam.

Qualified for CAN 2021, Senegal will know its opponents on June 25. The competition will be held from January 9 to February 6, 2022. But before that, the Lions will launch in their qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup. They are in Group H along with Togo, Congo and Namibia. Senegal are favorites for qualifying in the second round. But confidence is likely to change sides because of the deficiencies in the game of the Lions during their last two outings.