Elie Baup Offers Advice to Senegal Ahead of Crucial Clash with Egypt
Former Olympique de Marseille coach Elie Baup has shared his thoughts and tactical advice ahead of Senegal’s high-stakes encounter with Egypt on November 15, as part of the fifth round of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) qualifiers.
Speaking to the Senegalese daily STADES, the French coach emphasized the importance of national identity and collective spirit in matches of this magnitude.
“For this kind of match, we must appeal to the strong values of the country as well as the great values of the national team,” Baup said.
He underlined commitment and solidarity as essential ingredients to team success:
“The players must also focus on commitment and solidarity because the latter is the key to the life of a team.”
On Alain Giresse, the then-coach of Senegal, Baup was full of praise:
“I trust him because, humanly, he is a cut above. I was happy to hear positive things about him in Africa. For my generation, Alain Giresse is someone important and very good tactically and technically.”
Qualification at Stake in Cairo
Senegal, trailing Egypt by just one point, faces a decisive match in Cairo, with qualification for the 2015 CAN on the line. A draw could still be enough for the Lions of Teranga, who will conclude the group stage five days later with a home match in Dakar against Botswana—a fixture where victory is expected and could seal their place in the continental showpiece.
As the pressure mounts, Elie Baup’s words serve as a timely reminder of the values and unity required to overcome one of Africa’s most storied football nations on their own turf.
