The Senegal National Team, for the last of Pape Thiaw as interim coach, will try to end the year on a positive note against Burundi in qualifying for CAN 2025, Tuesday at the Abdoulaye-Wade Stadium in Diamniadio, just to make full of confidence before getting to the heart of the matter in 2025.
More than a simple success, it is a successful performance that the Lions greatly need to reduce doubts and tackle the major obstacles on the program for the coming months in the best possible conditions. Undefeated since its elimination in the round of 16 of the last African Cup of Nations, but in constant search of a real base to play, the National Team completed, Tuesday evening (7:00 p.m. GMT) in Diamniadio against Burundi, its qualifications for CAN 2025. After a victory without panache on Thursday against Burkina Faso, the Lions will face the modest Swallows, last in the group, with the mission of finding some fun at home.
Because beyond the strict accounting point of view, the quality of the game still leaves much to be desired. A lasting and unpleasant impression that the narrow success acquired against Burkina Faso has not made disappear. On the contrary, the 2022 African champions give the feeling of stagnating and standing still since the group stage of the last CAN. Apart from the victory against a modest team from Malawi, reduced to ten in the first quarter of an hour of play at the Stade Abdoulaye-Wade (4-0, October 11), difficult to find the trace of a consistent outing from the Senegal National Team, subscribed to matches with only one goal scored and a lot of scares.
Last service of temporary worker Thiaw
However, time is running out for Kalidou Koulibaly’s partners and especially for Pape Thiaw to achieve consistency in the collective. After an interim period of just over a month, the 43-year-old coach will lead his very last match as interim coach against Burundi. No less than the first three won, this meeting will necessarily count in determining the future of the former coach of Niarry Tally at the head of the National Team. Thiaw is aware of this, even if he, faithful to his principles, does not want to get involved. “ The mission is not yet accomplished, I still have one match which is very important for me, it is a final. For the future, concerning me, I let the good Lord decide. »
In any case, with or without Pape Thiaw on the bench, the program will not change, and it is attractive. After this Tuesday’s match, the Lions will not meet again until March to really get to the heart of the matter. Because on the menu at the start of the year, there will be the continuation of the qualifications for the next World Cup, and Senegal has not made its way to North America, since it is only second in its group, ahead of Sudan and closely followed by the DR Congo. In the meantime, the Lions are focusing on the Burundian meeting, with a full group, with the notable exception of Lazio Rome striker Boulaye Dia, released due to malaria, and undoubtedly Pape Gueye.
With first place in the ranking assured following the defeat of Burkina Faso in Malawi (3-0) the day before, Thiaw’s men know that they have no very particular challenge to play against the Burundians. They must therefore please themselves and please their audience. This requires consistent play, which could certainly be done with a few changes, the coach having every intention of making adjustments to the team lined up against the Stallions. Affected in the adductors and withdrawn on Thursday, Lamine Camara has recovered and should return to the eleven. In central defense, Abdou Diallo is applying for a starting place. Just like Chérif Ndiaye at center forward.
wiwsport.com
