The Senegalese national team, the Lions of Teranga, will unveil their final squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations on Friday, May 31, 2019, under coach Aliou Cissé. The tournament, scheduled in Egypt from June 21 to July 19, sees Senegal positioned as one of the favorites, boasting a squad filled with world-class talent including Sadio Mané (Liverpool) and Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli).
Drawn in Group C, Senegal will face Algeria, Tanzania, and Kenya in the opening phase of the competition. In a recent interview with cafonline.com, Cissé reflected on the draw and the challenges ahead. “I think the draw was balanced for all the teams, especially for us. In Africa, there are no longer small or big teams, and all will be in Egypt to fight and try to achieve the best possible result. In our group, we will have Algeria, a regular at big events, but also Kenya and Tanzania, whom we must not underestimate. We must prepare the matches well and, above all, approach the competition in the right way,” he said.
Cissé emphasized the importance of taking the tournament one match at a time, despite Senegal being considered among the favorites. “We’re going to take it one game at a time because we know anything can happen. It’s true that we’re among the favorites in the competition, but to get there we’ll have to beat everyone, and that starts with Tanzania on June 23rd. We need to focus on ourselves and not think about our opponents,” he added.
Preparations for the tournament are already underway. The Lions of Teranga will begin a training camp in Spain on June 4th, in the Alicante region, where they will work on tactical and physical readiness. After nearly two weeks of training, the team will travel to Egypt for a friendly match against Nigeria on June 16th in Ismailia, providing a final opportunity to fine-tune their strategies before the official tournament begins.
Senegal’s AFCON campaign will kick off against Tanzania on June 23rd, followed by a high-profile clash with Algeria on June 27th in Cairo, and concluding the group stage against Kenya on July 1st. Coach Cissé remains confident in the team’s capabilities, highlighting the balance of talent and experience within the squad.
With a blend of seasoned internationals and young talents, Senegal is poised to make a deep run in the tournament. The Lions of Teranga aim not only to progress beyond the group stage but also to challenge for the title, relying on the leadership of key players and the strategic guidance of Aliou Cissé.
The announcement of the final squad on May 31 will set the stage for a highly anticipated AFCON campaign, with Senegal looking to combine preparation, skill, and team cohesion in pursuit of continental glory.
