Recently, the African Cup of Nations has often been discussed during press conferences at Stade Rennais. Four days after Senegal’s victory against Morocco in the final of the tournament (1-0, ap), the subject was logically raised again by journalists and Habib Beye. The Franco-Senegalese coach of SRFC did not shy away from his pleasure at the Lions’ second success, but he also said a word about the incidents which marred the meeting, on and off the field.
“There is great joy because I have seen exceptional images in my country of the fervor around this trophy and the fact that we are double African champions. Afterwards, on the scenario, we all agree to say that for football… The image of the whole situation, not of one team or another or that of one coach or another, the overall situation is images that we do not like to see,” judged the Breton technician, according to comments relayed by RMC Sport.
” Pride “
“We didn’t like these images, that’s for sure, and we cannot condone them. But they were part of this final,” he added. The match was notably marked by the request from Pape Thiaw, the Senegal coach, who told his players to leave the pitch after decisions unfavorable to the Lions. When he was a player, Beye rubbed shoulders with Thiaw in the selection. He confided his “pride” in seeing the success “of people with whom I shared part of my story”.
According to the Rennes coach, “the victory is deserved”. “We were superior in the game throughout the competition and this final. The scenario is crazy in terms of emotion, the goal is sumptuous, he said. When we know the importance of this trophy in Africa and especially for our country, what I saw makes me proud to be Franco-Senegalese. »
