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The reign of Aliou Cisse as Senegal's head coach ends after underwhelming results despite historic AFCON success in 2022.
Former Birmingham City and Portsmouth midfielder Aliou Cisse has been sacked as the head coach of Senegal’s national football team after a series of disappointing results.
The decision, confirmed by the Senegalese Football Federation (SFF), brings an end to Cisse's tenure which saw both remarkable highs and recent lows for the Teranga Lions.
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15:04 - 02.10.2024
Okumu, Olunga, Odada headline Harambee Stars squad for 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Cameroon
Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has announced a 28-man provisional squad for crucial AFCON qualifiers against Cameroon.
Cisse, who made history in 2022 by leading Senegal to their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title has faced mounting pressure in recent months.
“The contract between the national coach, Aliou Cisse, and the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) will not be renewed. This is what the new authorities have decided,” reported Wiw Sport, signaling the end of an era for the 47-year-old coach who had been in charge of the national team since 2015.
Cisse's journey with the national team has been a rollercoaster, filled with both triumph and heartbreak.
After taking charge of Senegal in 2015, following a brief stint as caretaker manager in 2012, Cisse brought a new sense of belief to the squad.
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12:15 - 02.10.2024
Inter Milan star leads trio rejecting Cameroon call-up for 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Harambee Stars
Cameroon faces a setback as three key players, including Inter Milan defender Yann Aurel Bisseck reject call-up ahead of the crucial 2025 AFCON qualifiers double-header against Kenya
His leadership led to qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and although Senegal was eliminated in the group stage on a controversial fair-play tiebreaker, Cisse's influence was undeniable.
“This is one of the rules. We have to respect it,” Cisse said after the team’s exit in 2018.
“Of course, we would prefer to be eliminated another way. It’s a sad day for us but we knew these were the regulations.”
Despite that setback, Cisse continued to build a strong foundation for Senegal. In 2019, he guided the Teranga Lions to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, their first since 2002, only to be narrowly defeated by Algeria.
However, redemption came in 2022 when Senegal won their first-ever AFCON title under his guidance, beating Egypt in a dramatic penalty shootout.
This monumental achievement etched Cisse’s name in Senegalese football history. He had finally delivered what had eluded the team for decades, proving himself not only as a tactician but as a symbol of national pride. The victory was seen as the culmination of years of hard work and dedication to the national team.
However, recent performances have failed to live up to that glory. A string of underwhelming results in the months following the 2022 FIFA World Cup put Cisse under increasing scrutiny.
While the team reached the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time since 2002, inconsistent showings in subsequent international fixtures and qualifiers for upcoming tournaments led to discontent within the football federation and among fans.
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08:00 - 02.10.2024
Harambee Stars midfielder on the radar of Premier League outfit Brentford
The former Nairobi City Stars man was reportedly scouted by Brentford and Luton scouts on his Europa League debut for Swedish outfit Elfsborg against Az Alkmar, a game he ended up scoring and assisting.
After careful consideration, the SFF ultimately decided not to renew Cisse’s contract, ending his eight-year spell in charge of the national team.
“Aliou Cisse has given so much to Senegalese football, but the time has come for a new direction,” an SFF official was quoted as saying, highlighting the federation’s determination to start a new chapter for the Teranga Lions.
Questions remain about who will take over the reins from Cisse as the pressure will be on to maintain Senegal’s position as one of Africa’s elite footballing nations while building on the legacy left behind by their AFCON-winning coach.
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