Rugby Africa Cup: Ousmane Mané, a Senegalese at the controls of the XV of Algeria
Ousmane Mané, the Senegalese coach of the Algerian XV, on July 1, 2022 before the Rugby Africa Cup match between Senegal and Algeria.
© Nicolas Bamba/RFI
Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow
4 mins
The Rugby Africa Cup 2022 continues on Saturday July 2 with in particular the quarter-final between Senegal and Algeria, in Aix-en-Provence.
A somewhat special match for Ousmané Mané, ex-Senegalese international now coach of the opposite team.
The story between him and Algerian rugby goes back several years.
He entrusts it to RFI.
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From our special correspondent in Salon-de-Provence,
Ousmane, what is the atmosphere in the group of the XV of Algeria before facing Senegal?
The group lives well.
We are serene.
We had a good ten-day preparation in the Paris region, in Gennevilliers.
We were able to fine-tune the details.
We are physically and psychologically ready to take up the challenge.
No injuries to report?
Everything is fine, we have a very competent medical staff.
All players are in good shape.
What kind of match can we expect against the XV of Senegal?
It will be a very dense match, with a lot of fights and collisions.
We will have to win these phases of the game. It will be a tight match because there will be two big teams.
Senegal is a big rugby nation in Africa.
She finished first in the previous round (two matches, two wins in Pool B; only Zimbabwe did as well in Group D, editor's note) by beating Kenya in Nairobi, as well as Zambia.
We are the Tom Thumb of the competition, and I say this without trying to hide ourselves.
We are in 90th place in the world, while the Senegalese are 45th.
They have experience in World Cup qualifiers, although this is Algeria's first campaign.
► To read also: Rugby Africa Cup: the new breath of the Ivory Coast oval
You who were Senegalese international and who still have acquaintances in the opposite camp, aren't you a little torn before facing your former team?
I am not divided at all.
I am a real professional.
Obviously, I want my team, Algeria, to win this match.
It is true that it will be very special for me.
I am a former Senegalese international, I played with some players who are still in the Senegalese squad, I played with the coaches... We know each other well.
But for 80 minutes there will be no feeling.
The Algerian Lions are playing the final phase of the Africa Rugby Cup in Marseille and Aix-en-Provence, between July 1 and 10, 2022. © Nicolas Bamba / RFI
It's been almost a year since you took up the position of coach of the Cubs, but this is not your first experience with Algeria. Where does this attachment to Algerian rugby come from?
It started in 2008, with open doors in Oran.
With a group of friends, we went to introduce rugby to the Algerian people.
More than 3,000 children came.
And one thing leading to another, I joined the Algerian Rugby Federation.
In 2018, I had the U18s, with whom we participated in the Youth Games in Algiers in rugby sevens.
It was a qualifying tournament for the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
We had a good tournament, we finished in 5th place out of 10 teams.
Afterwards, I investigated with the U20s.
And so I was entrusted, a year ago, with team A.
Algeria was quite simply an opportunity that I seized.
I got into the mold of Algerian rugby.
As we were a bit like the pioneers of Algerian rugby, I knew almost all the players who passed through the national team.
What is your initial assessment of your experience as an A coach?
It's very positive.
I have a staff of professionals around me with Boris Bouhraoua, Nasser Benamor, Nordine Badji and Terry Bouhraoua, the former sevens captain of the France team.
I have a medical staff with three physiotherapists, a doctor, a mental trainer, two physical trainers... I wanted a professional and consistent staff to have no regrets and put all the chances on our side.
What goals can the Algerian XV have in this African Cup and beyond?
We have reason to believe in it, like all the teams competing in this competition.
The first match will be very important for the rest of the competition.
We will take game after game.
We are the Tom Thumb of the competition, we have the role of outsiders.
We will do everything to look good.
And then, it's rugby;
if you put the ingredients, there is no problem.
What can we wish for the XV of Algeria?
To win !
(laughs) And that the players have fun, that's important.
Above all, we take pleasure in winning.
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