CAN 2022 Women: Senegalese at a turning point in their history
The Senegalese during the CAN 2022 women.
© Courtesy of CAF
Text by: David Kalfa Follow
2 mins
The Senegal team faces that of Zambia on July 13 in Casablanca in the quarter-finals of the Women's African Cup of Nations (CAN 2022).
If successful, the Senegalese will qualify not only for the semi-finals of CAN 2022 but also for the first World Cup in their history.
The Lionesses, who have always lived in the shadow of the Lions, are therefore at a turning point.
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From our special correspondent in Casablanca,
“
This quarter-final is the match of my life because it qualifies for the World Cup
.
Safietou
Sagna
, captain of the Senegalese women's national team, knows it: she and her partners will be at a turning point in their careers and even in the history of Senegalese women's football, this July 13, 2022 in Casablanca
against Zambia
.
"
It's the first time that the
Senegal team has played in the quarter-finals
of an African Cup of Nations
," she recalls.
It is also only the second participation of the Lionesses in the CAN, after that of 2012. And they have never taken part in a World Cup.
In Senegal, women's football is the poor relation of men's football.
For the Senegalese, it is therefore also a question of emerging from the shadow of their counterparts,
recently crowned at CAN 2021
and qualified for their third World Cup, after those of 2002 and 2018. “
It is both our dream and the beginning of something
, underlines the striker Ndeye Awa Diakhaté.
We really believe in it.
We know we have the potential to get there.
Our team has grown and we have worked hard for it.
So why not bring the cup back to Senegal, like the boys?
»
“I want to return as a legend”
In their path stand the Zambians, favorites of the match even in the absence of
their star striker Barbra Banda
.
“
I remind you that this team has not yet lost during this tournament and that it has won two matches
, underlines the Senegalese coach Mame Moussa Cissé.
The Zambians emerged first from a pool in which there were Cameroon and Tunisia, two teams that we faced in preparation matches.
You have to take Zambian women very seriously
.”
He adds: “
This team has a lot of value collectively, particularly in terms of commitment and solidarity.
It also includes individuals like Grace Chanda and Ochumba Lubandji.
»
Striker Ndeye Awa Diakhaté, the first scorer in Senegal's history at the CAN, has therefore understood what awaits her.
“
We prepared.
We know what awaits us, that Zambia is a great team.
We watched their matches.
But if we are there too, it is not for nothing
.
Midfielder Safiétou Sagna concludes, full of solemnity: “
I arrived like a queen and I want to come back like a legend.
»
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