Dakar, Oct 7 (APS) – The captain of the Senegal national team, Kalidou Koulibaly promised, Monday, on behalf of his teammates, to “do everything possible” to win during the double confrontation between the Senegal in Malawi, in recognition of the work accomplished by former Lions coach Aliou Cissé.
The State of Senegal made the decision last week not to approve the renewal of the contract of Cissé, at the head of the national team since 2015.
Pape Bouna Thiaw will lead the Senegal Lions on an interim basis.
The latter, until then the first assistant coach of coach Aliou Cissé, will be assisted by Teddy Pellerin, second assistant coach of the national team.
“We learned of the departure of coach Aliou Cissé four days before the regrouping. It was difficult because it took us by surprise. It is a decision that was taken at the highest level, we must accept it. The group has a very positive state of mind. We have started work with him, we will have to honor that on the pitch and that means a victory against Malawi in Dakar and Lilongwe. It will be difficult, but we will do everything we can for this,” said Kalidou Koulibaly.
He was speaking at the end of the Lions’ first training session, at the annex of the Abdoulaye Wade stadium in Diamniadio, ahead of the double confrontation against Malawi on October 11 and 15, counting for the World Cup qualifiers. Africa of Nations Football 2025 in Morocco.
Sixteen players took part in this first Lions training gallop.
Aliou Cissé brought solidity to the team”
According to Koulibaly, the departure of Cissé can “shake up the young players”, the Lions want to remain professional and want to take advantage of the new situation to make it a source of motivation.
He was full of praise for Aliou Cissé, whom he considers “a good gentleman” who, according to him, made the players love their country.
“He introduced me to Senegal and to more than 100 young people. He made me captain and that’s important. He brought solidity to the team. It’s an honor to wear the country’s jersey. He gave us the opportunity,” said the player from Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia).
The Lions captain assures that the technician “took with respect” the decision of the authorities not to approve the non-renewal of his contract.
“To please the people and rediscover their love”
“The Senegalese were disappointed” with the Lions during their last two matches, “goals taken at the end of the match against the DRC and Burundi. These were mistakes on our part. We are also at fault. And it’s normal that the people are angry,” he admitted.
“We have enormous potential in this group. And we are here to leave this to the young people who want to and who push us to our limits to take our places,” added Kalidou Koulibaly.
He believes that “it is a challenge to win against Malawi, because all matches in Africa are difficult. They have their chance against us” but “we know that by winning, we can mathematically be qualified to please the Senegalese people and rediscover their love, the good feelings”.
“We are at the disposal of the State, the national team and the Senegalese people. Our goal is to please the Senegalese as we have always done,” continued the Lions captain.
According to him, this requires “a big match on Friday”.
The Lions, he promises, will continue with the interim staff the work started under Aliou Cissé, beforeinvite supporters to continue supporting the team, because it is in “sacred union and positivity” that good results will come to the national team.
“The national team is a thermometer of the country, when it is doing well, the country is also doing well. We have this responsibility and we will take it. We hope that the public will come in large numbers. We need it,” concluded the 33-year-old Senegalese international defender.
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