AFCON 2015: Giresse Under Fire as Critics Question Senegal Squad Choices
Senegal head coach Alain Giresse is facing mounting criticism over his squad selection for the upcoming 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, with voices from both club management and former national team players questioning the rationale behind his choices.
The latest to wade into the debate is Willy Sagnol, head coach of Girondins de Bordeaux, who expressed concern about the inclusion of Henri Saivet, one of his own players, in Senegal’s preliminary squad. Speaking at a press conference, Sagnol noted that Saivet had seen minimal playing time since March and questioned the logic of his selection.
“Henri is extremely proud to wear his national team jersey,” Sagnol said. “But I find it strange that a player who hasn’t played more than 50 minutes in a match since March is competing like this. But it’s just a feeling.”
Sagnol, a former France international, refrained from fully challenging Giresse’s authority but hinted at broader uncertainties:
“Alain Giresse makes his choices based on the players he has. We each have our problems. I’m not going to start talking about that. Besides, it’s only a pre-selection for now, we’ll see what happens.”
However, the most scathing remarks have come from Demba Ba, the former Newcastle and Chelsea striker, who openly accused Giresse of not being in full control of team decisions.
“When you see certain decisions, you think he’s not the coach who makes them. And I have proof,” Ba said in a strongly worded statement.
“Some decisions about the rosters aren’t made by Alain Giresse. Giresse is a coach who doesn’t know what to do in the locker room. After the lost match in Tunisia, he was there in the locker room, haggard. He didn’t even know where to start his speech. I say we’re not dealing with a coach, but rather a puppet.”
These allegations, though unverified, have stirred further unrest among fans and analysts already uneasy about Senegal’s preparations for a tournament that promises high competition and little room for internal friction. With a talented pool of players and expectations running high, the pressure is mounting on Giresse to justify his choices on the pitch.
Senegal will face Algeria, Ghana, and South Africa in what has been dubbed the “Group of Death” — and with tensions already simmering off the field, Giresse will need more than tactical insight to steady the Lions of Teranga and prove his critics wrong.
