CAN 2022: Senegal, favorite to the throne of king of Africa
Senegalese Sadio Mané, during CAN 2019. Giuseppe CACACE / AFP
Text by: Farid Achache Follow
2 min
Senegal, which still dreams of a first crown, begins its competition on Monday, January 10 in Bafoussam, against Zimbabwe.
The team arrived in Cameroon a day late, with a knife between their teeth.
Advertising
Read more
Never titled, the Senegal Lions and their golden workforce are under pressure from huge favorites.
If the first round should not slow down the men of
Aliou Cissé
, superior on paper to Guinea, Zimbabwe and modest Malawi, the Lions of Teranga must deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
►
Match schedule and results
"
What brings us here is the trophy
"
Because Senegal never ends with its eventful preparation. On Saturday, three of their players tested positive for Covid-19, and not least: Édouard Mendy (Chelsea), Kalidou Koulibaly (Naples) and Famara Diedhiou (Alanyaspor). Placed in isolation, they will obviously not be on the scoresheet against Zimbabwe. A blow for the CAN 2019 finalist in Egypt, who is still running after his first continental coronation.
“
What brings us here is the trophy.
We are seen as the champion of Africa and I hope that this wish will come true.
We left soldiers in Dakar.
They will arrive as we go.
These are difficult times.
But we have a competitive squad.
We are not victims, we are very motivated.
Obviously, we would have liked to have everyone.
You have to compose and anticipate.
We will have six indisputable holders absent tomorrow from the scoresheet.
But we have other valid and motivated boys
, ”reacts coach Aliou Cissé at a press conference on Sunday January 9, 2022.
Sadio Mané at the head of the gondola
“
It doesn't stop me from sleeping.
The 2022 group is better and more balanced than that of 2019. Other boys have come to strengthen the workforce
, “proclaims Aliou Cissé about this complicated start to the competition.
Senegal can count on one of the best strikers in Africa, Sadio Mané.
If in 2019
Senegal lost a second
African Cup of Nations final against Algeria (1-0) on an unlucky goal in the second minute, the Liverpool player could bring all his experience to finally lift the trophy.
“
We had a good CAN
(in 2019),
we hope that the next time will be the right one.
We hope to continue to write history and win something for Senegal
, ”said Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
CAN
CAN 2022
CAN 2021
Senegal