LISBON, PORTUGAL – JUNE 20: Aliou Cisse of Senegal gestures during the international friendly match between Brazil and Senegal at Estadio Jose Alvalade on June 20, 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Joao Rico/Devodi Images via Getty Images)
2022 will be the pinnacle of glory for the Senegalese national team. The Lions have already fulfilled the ultimate dream of winning their first continental title, seven years after Cisse came off the bench. A path riddled with failures but also discreet successes – like the first place in the FIFA Ranking for Africa.
A chair that Senegal lost after regaining it in November 2018. Originally, Morocco! With a squad made up mostly of young players, the Maghreb countries ousted Sisih and his gang at the end of last year. Led by the so-called ‘golden’ generation, the Senegalese national team seemed to have reached its pinnacle after a booming year punctuated by the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup in Qatar.
Opponents with a lower rating and an atmosphere of the peak
One of the things he has been most criticized by the FSF and Aliou Cisse since his arrival in March 2015 is the selection of opponents in friendlies. Although the Lions coach always defended himself like what Finding strong opponents was not easy.Opinion has always associated the failures of the Lions against the big nations as a result of the fact that Aliou Cisse and his men did not live up to the standards of the big teams to prepare for matches.
After winning the African Cup of Nations, the Lions carried African ambitions during the Qatar World Cup with Morocco, Cameroon, Tunisia and Ghana. Finally, the best African team in the 2022 World Cup will be Morocco, who reached the semi-finals in unprecedented fashion after a good run of domination over Portugal, Spain and more.
Moreover, this path to the semi-finals of the world will catapult the Atlas Lions to the roof of Africa in the FIFA Ranking for December 2022. No wonder! It’s enough to give Aliou Cisse and his men another challenge if we know how close this chair is to the heart of El Tactico. Being first in Africa for a long time came as a relief for Senegal in the wake of disappointment. Now Senegal, now in second place behind Morocco, is seeking to regain its position.
Algeria, Cameroon and Mali will start the recovery process
To do this, there’s no secret: take on the best and beat them. So Cisse, in collusion with the Senegalese Football Federation, has a precise plan: it is necessary to team up with well-rated sparring partners like Brazil. Moreover, Senegal nibbled a few units after the June window. Next September, Senegal will face Algeria, the fourth-placed opponentH Final FIFA rankings rally (July 29).
Meanwhile, Morocco faces Liberia (45).Hand Burkina Faso (10H). After this shock against the Foxes, the Lions will challenge, according to the scheduled program, Cameroon (7H) and Mali (8H) next October. Meetings that could thus help the African champions draw closer to Morocco or even regain their seat as African leader.
Is it enough to become the first African country again? And what if everything will be decided in the African Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire next January?
wiwsport.com
