Aliou Cissé hopes Senegal will finally live up to the elusive Africa Cup of Nations
Senegalese coach Aliou Cissé on Friday named a team that he hopes will finally bring him an African Cup of Nations that has eluded him for more than two decades.
The 45-year-old tasted defeat in a final first as captain in 2002 – he missed a penalty in the shootout loss to Cameroon – then as a coach in 2019.
“I want this Africa Cup of Nations. I have been chasing him since 1999 ″, he told the press conference after revealing the team.
For his third final as a coach, he selected a squad that includes 17 who have yet to play in the African football centerpiece biennial.
« It is not the novelty (of the finals) that will make the difference but they can bring a freshness of approach to the team », he declared.
However, there is also experience with Liverpool star Sadio Mane, Paris Saint Germain midfielder Idrissa Gueye, Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly and Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Senegal are in Group B and begin their campaign against Zimbabwe on January 10 before further matches against Guinea (January 14) and Malawi (January 18) for the tournament which starts on January 9 and runs until February 6.
Team
Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (Chelsea / ENG), Alfred Gomis (Rennes / FRA), Seni Dieng (QPR / ENG).
Defenders: Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli / ITA), Ibrahima Mbaye (Bologne / ITA), Bouna Sarr (Bayern Munich / GER), Cheikhou Kouyaté (Crystal Palace / ENG), Abdou Diallo (PSG / FRA) Abdoulaye Seck (Royal Antwerp / BEL), Fodé Ballo Touré (AC Milan / ITA), Abdou Diallo (PSG / FRA), Saliou Ciss (Nancy / FRA).
Midfielder : Idrissa Gueye (PSG / FRA), Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City / ENG), Pape Matar Sarr (Metz / FRA), Moustapha Name (Paris FC / FRA), Loum Ndiaye (Alaves / ESP), Pape Gueye (Marseille / FRA) , Joseph Lopy (Sochaux / FRA).
Forward: Sadio Mané (Liverpool / ENG), Boulaye Dia (Villarreal / ESP), Ismaila Sarr (Watford / ENG), Famara Diedhiou (Alanyaspor / TUR), Habib Diallo (Strasbourg / FRA), Bamba Dieng (Marseille / FRA), Keita Balde Diao (Cagliari / ITA), Ismail Jakobs (Monaco / FRA), Famara Diédhiou (Alanyaspor / TUR)
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