The FIFA rankings for March 2014, released this Thursday, have left Senegalese sports journalists and enthusiasts disappointed. There’s a sense of discontent with coach Giresse, who hasn’t been able to secure victories and has seen the national team’s ranking drop by three important points in just two months.
Not too long ago, Senegal’s position in the FIFA rankings wasn’t a topic of discussion or concern for many. The Lions were consistently among the top teams. However, things have changed in recent years, and Senegalese interest in the rankings has grown.
This Thursday, March 13, saw Senegal slip from 66th place in February to 69th place a month later. They now sit at a modest 13th place in Africa, behind Mali (10th), Burkina Faso (11th), South Africa (12th), Guinea (9th), and Cape Verde (4th).
The sentiment among sports commentators, such as the columnist and editor-in-chief of the specialized daily Sport, is that Giresse’s inability to secure victories is to blame for this decline. “In 9 matches, he has only managed 2 modest victories against Liberia, with 6 draws and one defeat,” notes the sports journalist.
Many listeners, as highlighted in interactive programs, share similar sentiments, expressing concern about the team’s performance under Giresse’s leadership. They believe that such a trend of losses and draws cannot continue, especially with the start of the CAN 2015 qualifiers approaching in September.
As Senegal awaits the next FIFA ranking, there’s a palpable sense of disappointment and frustration among supporters.
