David GOMBE
Reigning African Champions Senegal have part ways with their head coach Aliou Cisse after nine and a half years in charge of the Teranga Lions.
Cisse guided Senegal to the delayed AFCON 2021 title in February 2022 after beating Egypt in the final.
The former Senegal skipper’s previous contract as head coach ended in August but remained in charge for Senegal’s two 2025 Afcon qualifiers last month, a 1-1 draw with Burkina Faso and a 1-0 victory over Burundi.
It has been established that the country’s Football Federation (FSF) wanted to renew Cisse’s contract but the sports ministry, under Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s new government decided to end his long tenure.
“The FSF would like to thank Aliou Cisse for his good collaboration and his brilliant results at the head of various national selections and wishes him every success for the future,” a statement said.
With just nine days to Senegal’s AFCON qualifier double header against Malawi, Cisse had already called a press conference for Friday to announce his squad.
Cisse, who won 35 caps for Senegal as a player, took charge in March 2015 and his longevity in the role helped establish the Teranga Lions as Africa’s top-ranked side for over four years.
Cisse also helped Senegal reach the AFCON Final in 2019, losing 1-0 to Algeria.
During the 2023 continental showpiece, Senegal’s title defense was tended at round last of 16 after a penalty shootout defeat against hosts and eventual champions Ivory Coast.
Cisse also led Senegal to the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup final tournaments.
As a player, he captained Senegal at the 2002 World Cup as they shocked World champions France by then and reached the quarter-finals on their first appearance at the tournament that was held in Korea and Japan.
Before, their heroics in the World Cup, Senegal also reached the AFCON final that same year with Cisse missing a penalty in their shootout defeat to Cameroon.
