Senegal for the pass of two? Winners for the first time in their history of the CAN in 2022, the “Lions of Teranga” will once again be among the big favorites in this 2024 version of the African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, with a very similar group, two years later.
The anecdote
Senegal will have to counter the curse of the outgoing champion. Since Egypt’s historic treble in the last decade (2006, 2008, 2010), no selection has achieved the double in the competition. In history, only Egypt (1957, 1959), Ghana (1963, 1965) and Cameroon (2000, 2002) have achieved this performance. Enough to question Aliou Cissé at a press conference: “There are questions to ask about this curse. Is this Senegal team sleeping on its laurels today? Is this Senegal team sleeping on its achievements? » For the moment, the coach’s answer is “no”. But it still needs to be confirmed on the ground.
Senegal form
Since its coronation at the last African Cup of Nations, the “Lions of Teranga” have assumed their status as a leading nation on the African continent. During the 2022 World Cup, they managed to get out of the groups before losing to England in the round of 16 (0-3). 20th in the FIFA rankings, Senegal has had a very favorable record since the World Cup in Qatar (10 wins, 4 draws, 2 defeats).
Senegal’s match schedule
The list
Goalkeepers: Édouard Mendy, Sény Dieng, Mory Diaw
Defenders: Abdou Diallo, Kalidou Koulibaly, Abdoulaye Ndiaye, Abdoulaye Seck, Moussa Niakhatate, Youssouf Sabaly, Formose Mendy, Fode Ballo-Toure, Ismail Jakobs
Midfield: Cheikhou Kouyaté, Krépin Diatta, Idrissa Gueye, Nampalys Mendy, Lamine Camara, Pathé Ismaïl Ciss, Pape Matar Sarr, Pape Gueye
Strikers: Sadio Mane, Ismaila Sarr, Nicolas Jackson, Abdullah Sima, Iliman Ndiaye, Habib Diallo, Boulaye Dia
The player to watch: Sadio Mané
Sadio Mane has 101 caps with Senegal. Icon sport DeFodi Images / Icon Sport
He may have missed his 2022-2023 season at Bayern Munich, having gone far from the European radars to the side of Al-Nassr in the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mané will always be a strong element of the “Lions of Teranga”. Starting in the last four selection matches, the former Liverpool winger (31 years old) has scored three of his team’s last five goals. At club level, with Saudi Arabia, Mané is staying in good shape with already 10 goals scored since his arrival this summer. His coach Aliou Cissé even assured that his home scorer was “returning to his best level”. At the best time?
