A whole country is waiting for this. Last finalist, Senegal remains one of the great nations of African football still in search of a first African Cup of Nations. Two finals in 16 participations, the last one lost against Algeria in 2019 (0-1), and the feeling that fate does not want to smile at the Lions of Téranga. "
It weighs on the whole country to never have won a CAN, it is a little their inaccessible dream
", asks Claude Le Roy, who had taken charge of the selection between 1989 and 1992, just after having triumphed with Cameroon in 1988. “
It's my fault, I should have won the first one when I had the best team,
regrets the“ Blond Sorcerer ”, a constant follower of African football.
If we had won this first African Cup, I think they would have won many more.
There is a certain psychological blockage, they have to drop the cup.
"
To discover
Africa Cup of Nations: schedule and results
And the 2022 squad is in favor of this, at least on paper. “
It is certainly the most complete squad, with a strong man on all lines. Aliou Cissé has this diversity almost everywhere on the ground
”, analyzes Robert Malm, former Togolese international reconverted by consulting on
beIN SPORTS
, exclusive broadcaster of the competition. At the dawn of this 33rd CAN, the Senegalese coach benefits from a much larger reservoir than that of his competitors. "
We immediately think of Sadio Mané, the star player of the selection
,
but also of Edouard Mendy, Idrissa Gueye or Kalidou Koulibaly
", notes Robert Malm, who will comment on the competition. So many players who form the backbone of Senegal.
Aliou Cissé's XXL workforce from Senegal.
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Mendy and Koulibaly affected by Covid-19
A spine, however, amputated from its defensive pillars for the country's entry into contention against Zimbabwe on Monday (2 p.m.).
Tested positive for Covid-19, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy (Chelsea) and defender Kalidou Koulibaly (Naples) will miss the call in Bafoussam, like Famara Diedhiou, the attacker passed through Clermont and Angers, also tested positive.
A first stone in Aliou Cissé's shoe.
"
There are six players absent, it is true that it is worrying
, regretted on the eve of the meeting the former captain of the selection.
But that's no excuse for us.
"
“All this armada is almost too much for Senegal. "
Alain Giresse
Its status and its reservoir should allow Senegal to start on Monday to see further.
And this even if one of the house blasters, Ismaïla Sarr, released late by his club Watford, will also miss the call for this first match of the tournament.
To see the glass half full, some will say that it will be better to collect all these beautiful people at longer deadlines in the weeks to come.
"
All this armada gives multiple possibilities for team composition, it's almost too much for Senegal
," smiles Alain Giresse, not worried about a selection he had left in 2015 after a little over a year in office. .
Mané on a mission
Aliou Cissé, successor to the latter, built from a team that counts on the international scene (quarter-finalist of the CAN 2017, qualified for the World Cup 2018, finalist of the CAN 2019).
"
Aliou Cissé developed the team and arrived in this dimension with the contribution of players who were not necessarily there at the start
", remarks Giresse.
Ismaïla Sarr and the former Monegasque Keita Baldé, who share the wings of the Senegalese 4-2-3-1, are two examples.
Read alsoFavorites, organization, French coaches ... 5 questions before the start of the CAN
Without being in his shadow, the two wingers, to which is added Krépin Diatta, long injured with Monaco and therefore absent, are loyal lieutenants of the flagship player of the selection: Sadio Mané. The number 10 of the Lions of Téranga and Liverpool is finally coming of age (29 years) and carries the hopes of an entire country.
With Senegal, Mané has the keys to the game, just behind the striker.
“
He's a striking player
,” enthuses Giresse, who knows something about it.
The player trained at the local talent nursery "Generation Foot" and passed through FC Metz took on a whole new dimension with Liverpool, where he gleaned a Champions League (2019) and a title of champion of England (2020) .
But this quest for the continental Grail remains.
"
I would exchange all my titles for this one
", declared the person concerned in a commercial for his equipment supplier before the competition.
Before promising: "
the Lions will roar
".
Here is the competition of warned.
The 11 stars of CAN 2022
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