Aliou Cissé, the coach of the Senegal national football team, is set to have his contract extended, as announced by Augustin Senghor, President of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF).
Despite a disappointing performance in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where Senegal, the defending champions, were eliminated in the round of 16 by eventual winners Côte d’Ivoire, Cissé’s contract was renewed last March until August 2025.
Senghor explained the decision to retain Cissé during an interview on RTS’s Galaxie Sports programme.
“We have urgent matters concerning qualification. We couldn’t afford to change the coach at this critical juncture.
We had to bet on continuity with the same group. That’s why the executive committee unanimously decided to renew its confidence in him, and we informed the authorities accordingly,” Senghor stated.
Initially, Cissé’s contract extension was intended to cover the next AFCON, scheduled for the summer of 2025 in Morocco.
However, the tournament has been postponed to the unprecedented period from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
As a result, Cissé’s contract will now be extended by an additional six months.
“It is now a matter of proposing to the supervisory authority the renewal of the contract. Initially, we planned a one-year extension to cover the next AFCON.
Due to the rescheduling by CAF, the tournament is now set for December.
We intend to offer him an 18-month renewal, covering the next AFCON, with hopes that he will lead us to win a second cup with this generation of players,” Senghor elaborated.
The 48-year-old coach is expected to stay on until early 2026, which would further extend his already record-setting tenure with the Lions.
Senghor expressed confidence in this decision, acknowledging the role of the state in finalising the contract due to its responsibility for the coach’s salary.
“The state has a say, but I believe they will support us. We have a match in September, and the contract ends in August, so transitioning to a new coach would be challenging,” Senghor said.
He continued, “Aliou is doing a commendable job. We rely on him for upcoming challenges and the qualifications for the next World Cup.
Senegal must continue to qualify regularly for the World Cup, irrespective of the coach. Our FIFA ranking among the top 20 globally demands it.
When Aliou completes his cycle, we can consider a change.”
Should Senegal qualify for the 2026 World Cup, it is likely that Cissé’s contract will be extended again to cover the competition, ensuring his leadership through another critical phase for Senegalese football.
Cissé, a former Paris Saint-Germain player, has been a pivotal figure in Senegalese football, leading the national team to significant milestones, including their first AFCON title in 2021.
His continued presence promises stability and the potential for further success on the international stage.
‘ @AugustinSengho2, président de la FSF, sur le plateau de Galaxie Sports à la @RTS1_Senegal : « Nous allons proposer une prolongation d’un an et demi du contrat d’Aliou Cissé pour couvrir la prochaine CAN ». pic.twitter.com/gX0l8MOhSV
— Taggat (@taggatsn) July 16, 2024
