African Nations Cup: Senegal's president pressures Mane and the "Teranga Lions" to win the title

Senegalese President Macky Sall put pressure on his country's "Teranga Lions" and its star Sadio Mane on Tuesday, a few hours before they traveled to Cameroon to participate in the African Cup of Nations, by urging them to return to the title after losing two final matches.

"This time I'm not talking about reaching the final, but about the cup. You have to fight to get the cup," the Senegalese president said, speaking in the local "Olof" dialect to the coaching staff and players at the presidential palace.

In French, he added, "You can do it. You are the best tactically, technically and in quality," and the rest is now a matter of "will" and "fighting spirit."

The head of state handed the national flag to the players who arrived at the palace on board the regional express train that had been running a few days ago between Dakar and its suburbs.

Senegal lost the final in the 2002 editions against Cameroon and 2019 against Algeria, and is a candidate led by Liverpool star Mane and Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy for the title for the first time in its history in the thirty-third edition in Cameroon from January 9 to February 6 .

Senegal was drawn into Group B, where it will meet Zimbabwe next Monday, Guinea on the 14th and Malawi on the 18th.

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