2023-06-17 00:17:22
Dakar, June 16 (APS) – Lions coach Aliou Cissé assured Friday in Cotonou that his team will show “a lot of humility and concentration” against Benin to try to get the best possible result.
Senegal faces Benin on Saturday at 7 p.m. GMT in a match counting for the fifth day of qualifying for the 2023 African Cup of Nations (CAN) scheduled in Côte d’Ivoire.
”We come here with a lot of humility and focus to get the best possible result. Far from us to underestimate it, even if there is a lot of change between the team of 2019 and this year. Benin is a team that Senegal had a lot of difficulty playing. ”, he said.
He was speaking during a press conference followed by the Lions training session, before facing the Cheetahs on Saturday at 7 p.m. GMT at the Friendship General Mathieu Kérékou stadium.
“Tomorrow (Saturday), we will be expected, in Maputo, we were expected, in March during the fourth day of these qualifiers, and in Kigali. We will also be, in September for the last day. We will be expected everywhere on this continent. It’s up to us to be focused and do what we have to do,” he said.
”For five or six years, not to say 20 years, Senegal has always been expected when we had not won any major trophies. Now that it’s done and we have great players in the squad, everyone wants to see us.
Cissé was delighted with this fervor and joy that accompanies the trips of the national team in Senegal and abroad. “This team gives pride to Africa,” he said.
“All week, the boys have worked well. I hope that we will be able to get a good result and establish our defensive animation and progress in our offensive animations”, underlined the Senegalese technician, assuring that he has a group of 23 players with Moussa Niakhate, gone to England and who will join his teammates this evening in Cotonou.
Three players are missing from the squad, Iliman Ndiaye unavailable for family reasons, Pape Matar Sarr and Fodé-Ballo Touré, due to groin and calf injuries.
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