A warm winter for the Lions. Led by a thunderous Habib Diarra and profitable choices from their coach, Pape Thiaw’s men dominated the harmless Burundians for their last of the year (2-0). Like what we have found with the center forwards of the selection for some time, Chérif Ndiaye has failed tor his first as a starter, while Cheikh Tidiane Sabaly is already scoring points.
Edouard Mendy (6/10) : Unlike the match against Burkina Faso, the Lions goalkeeper did not have much to chew on but he did the job on aerial balls, transmissions and the only intervention he made had to do. A shot on target from Shassiri Nahimana (64th).
Krépin Diatta (6/10): The right side of the evening was completely correct on this part. Without breaking the screen, the AS Monaco player was up to the task defensively with good retreats. In the build-up, he combined a lot with Iliman Ndiaye and brought danger to his crosses, even if there was a bit of a lack of technical accuracy.
Kalidou Koulibaly (6.5/10) : Left on the starting eleven, the captain of the Senegal National Team was, like his defensive partner in the evening, serious this Tuesday. And that, from the start to mark his territory with a superb tackle on Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana (2nd). Very present on the transmissions, he is at the origin of the opening score with his magnificent pass to break the Burundian block and serve Diarra. Replaced in the 69th minute by Abdoulaye Seck (not rated) who helped preserve the defensive solidity of the evening.
Abdou Diallo (6/10) : Back in the starting lineup after four games without playing, the central defender of Al-Arabi justified the confidence of coach Pape Thiaw. The former Paris Saint-Germain player distinguished himself with numerous duels won, particularly in the aerial field. Serious and solid, Abdou Diallo was also clean in his restarts and did not fail to project himself. A credible alternative.
El Hadji Malick Diouf (6.5/10) : Much more than during the match against Burkina Faso, the Slavia Prague player worked on his crosses and was at the origin of several situations in the Burundian area. Defensively, he had no difficulty blocking the opposing right side, notably on the rare climbs of Akbar Muderi and Bienvenue Kanakimina. A really serious match for El Hadji Malick Diouf.
Idrissa Gueye (6/10) : Always comfortable in midfield at the age of 35, he showed a lot of personality with the ball to serve his partners in depth and open up the game. Above all, he brought physical impact against opponents. Burundians, certainly very shy. His age really doesn’t reflect his performance: no one has touched more of the ball than him (103) and completed more passes than him (84 successful passes out of 92 attempts). Time passes but he stays, for good reasons.
Pape Matar Sarr (7/10) : Back in the starting lineup after playing a few minutes against Burkina Faso, the Tottenham midfielder was really there this evening. He was one of the few to sound the revolt when the Lions stumbled on the Burundian block, as evidenced by his superb sequence to serve Chérif Ndiaye shortly before the half-hour mark. He brought life with his projections, to the image of this action and this strike repelled by Nahimana (68th), and remained constant until his exit in the 87th minute, replaced by Ismaël Pathé Ciss (not rated).
Habib Diarra (9/10) : After his magnificent first goal against Burkina Faso, the Strasbourg midfielder still had fire in his legs and clarity. While the Lions sometimes lacked sharpness, Habib Diarra was inspired by several actions to put the Burundian bloc in difficulty. Very connected with his partners, notably Iliman Ndiaye, he broke the deadlock in the 35th minute, after recovering a pass from Koulibaly and taking advantage of a delicious serve from the Everton player. Shortly after, he made the difference in the gesture but his shot was caught by the goalkeeper (37th). Iliman’s exit did not cool him down. After the break, he made some interesting combinations with Cheikh Tidiane Sabaly, who served him for the break goal on a new dive ball. With three goals in this rally, Diarra was very decisive. Replaced in 70e minute per Lamine Camara (not rated), whose set pieces quickly brought danger.
Indian Education (6/10) : In a right winger role but often centered, the Everton striker was the one who caused the most chaos in the Burundian camps in the first period. If he sometimes lacked technical accuracy to better conclude his actions (24th, 27th, 30th), he managed to destabilize the opposing block thanks to his swaying dribbles and his ball catches. In the end, by fixing the defense, he managed to serve Habib Diarra ideally for the opener. Replaced in the 45th minute by Cheikh Tidiane Sabaly (6/10), the FC Metz winger made a big entry by being a decisive passer in the 2-0 for his first with the A. Without hesitation, he brought a lot of percussion to solicit his partners, and this performance should convince the next coach to remind him during the next gatherings.
Chérif Ndiaye (4/10): For his first as a starter, the Red Star Belgrade striker did not have a successful evening and therefore did not fully seize his chance. So of course, he was present in the shifts and the game with his back to goal but his size was not felt much in the Burundian defense. He did not always make the right calls to find the balls on the numerous Senegalese crosses in the evening. Replaced in the 77th minute by Habib Diallo (not rated). To confirm the difficulties of the center forwards of the selection.
Sadio Mané (4.5/10): In the first period, the Al-Nassr striker stood out for his lack of technical precision and application, like this cross in the 31st minute. Clumsy for a large part of the match, the top scorer in the history of the selection was the player who lost the most balls (21) and he was unable to make the difference on his attempts. Note all the same the activity in the last quarter of an hour to combine with El Hadji Malick Diouf or Pape Matar Sarr, but this remains insufficient.
Pope Thiaw (8/10): It’s difficult to blame him for much in his interim mandate. Four matches, four victories, eight goals scored, zero goals conceded and above all, but above all a much more exciting game and changes on time, the former coach of Niarry Tally has fulfilled his mission perfectly and, whatever happens concerning his future, can hold his head high. Against Burundi, he once again proved that he had what it took to lead this team beyond this month. Certainly, his composition was expected but his choice allowed his players, like Iliman Ndiaye and Habib Diarra, to fully express themselves. It’s not his fault if Chérif Ndiaye didn’t manage to score but he gave him a chance the player deserved. He seems to have found the formula. It now remains to be seen on what he will really be judged on in order to keep his position.
wiwsport.com
