Never titled, the Senegal Lions and their golden workforce (Édouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Sadio Mané ...) begin against Zimbabwe, Monday January 10, the CAN-2022 with the pressure of being the huge favorites. 

Within group B, the first round should not slow down Aliou Cissé's men, superior on paper to Guinea, while the Zimbabwe of Lyonnais Tino Kadewere deprived of his two other stars, Marsall Munetsi (Reims) and Marvelous Nakamba (Aston Villa), injured, and modest Malawi appear a cut below.

Finally a first African title for Senegal?

During the last CAN, in Cairo, on July 19, 2019, the Lions lost a second final of the African Cup of Nations, against Algeria (1-0), on an unlucky goal, for them, from Baghdad Bounedjah from the 2nd minute, a deflected strike in improbable candle by Salif Sané who deceived Alfred Gomis.

"When we lost the final, it was a difficult moment for us, we were very close to the goal," Paris midfielder SG Idrissa Gana Gueye told AFP.

"Unfortunately, we took this goal from the start, we were sad but proud of what we had accomplished, because Senegal went to the final," added the player. 

In 2002, tears had already flowed from Zinginchor to Saint-Louis.

The Lions then lost their first CAN final, on penalties against Cameroon (0-0, 3 tab to 2).

Aliou Cissé, who has become a respected coach, missed the last "peno".

But the heroes had made up for it by becoming at the World Cup the second African country to reach the quarter-finals after Cameroon (1990) and before Ghana (2010).

Senegal has experienced other setbacks in the African Cup.

In 1986, the armada of Jules Bocandé, Thierno Youm and Oumar Sène started with a feat, beating Egypt on their own ground (1-0) in the opening match, before being eliminated on goal difference for a failed match against Ivory Coast (1-0).

Claude Le Roy, African champion with Cameroon (1988), recalls that Senegal twice lacked luck under his orders.

In 1990, he was narrowly beaten by Algeria (2-1), already in the semi-finals in Algiers.

And two years later he lost his quarter-final in Dakar against Cameroon, the worst memory of the "Blond Sorcerer", during the CAN-1992 at home.

"It's unfair, we never deserve to be beaten, we play well but we do not materialize and they, on almost their only opportunity, they score," recalls Claude Le Roy.

"I think we should have been African champion that year, we were already very close two years before, it's a great, great sadness," rewinds the man who participated in ten CAN.

"The goal is final victory"

All this bitterness has whetted the appetite of supporters.

"There is a big expectation, we feel it every day there, everyone is talking about it", summarizes the Parisian defender Abdou Diallo.

The latter forms a very solid central hinge with Napoli captain Kalidou Koulibaly, another strong point of one of the most impressive teams on the field, even if he tested positive for Covid-19 on the eve of the tournament. . 

"The goal is the final victory", announces Idrissa Gana Gueye.

"We had a good CAN (in 2019), even if that goal spoiled the final a bit, but we hope that the next time will be the good one. We hope to continue to write history and win something for the Senegal".

Morocco's revenge in a tough group

Often expected, but rarely successful in competition, Morocco led by Vahid Halilhodzic hopes to forget the disappointing elimination from the round of 16 in 2019. 

After showing an iron defense in the CAN qualifiers (only one goal conceded), a fiery attack in the qualifiers for the World-2022 (20 goals scored, the second best total behind Algeria) and CHAN-2020, the Atlas Lions have become a war machine.

Their collective is so well established that coach Vahid Halilhodzic can afford the luxury of dismissing players Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea), Noussair Mazraoui (Ajax Amsterdam) or Amine Harit (OM) without affecting his performance.

The Bosnian technician will be able to count on the Parisian Achraf Hakimi and his Sevillian trio formed by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and forwards Munir El Haddadi and Youssef En-Nesyri. "It is true that our history is not as rich as other teams, but this generation is motivated and determined to achieve a historic feat during this African Cup", explained Vahid Halilhodzic during the conference of press, on the eve of the first meeting against Ghana.

Within Group C, the Moroccans will therefore meet the Black Stars, four times winners of the CAN and still among the contenders.

"Ghana is a team with a great history in African football. They have won the Africa Cup four times. The game against the Blacks will certainly be difficult," added the Moroccan coach. 

"It's one of the best teams on the continent. It's the match for the first place in the group. It will be important to give everything to win," also said captain Romain Saïss.

The Moroccans will also be opposed to the Panthers of Gabon who lost their bite after the positive test Thursday of their stars Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mario Lemina.

The last residents of the group, the Comoros, one of the two beginners, will be one of the attractions of the tournament.

With AFP

With AFP

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