Aliou Cissé, the coach of the Senegal national team, expressed confidence in his team’s readiness for the defense of the Africa Cup of Nations title as they prepare to face Gambia in the opening match of Group C on Monday.
Speaking at a press conference in Abidjan on Sunday, Cissé acknowledged the positive pressure on his team as the defending champions, stating, “The pressure on us as the titleholders is positive pressure that motivates us to achieve victory.”
Cissé, with vast experience in managing Senegal through four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, emphasized his adeptness in handling such situations.
He remarked, “I have great experience in dealing with this because this is my fourth participation as the head coach of the Senegal national team in the Africa Cup of Nations.”
Highlighting the competitive nature of the tournament, Cissé noted, “There are several teams that are candidates to win the continental title, and Senegal is not the sole contender for the Africa Cup of Nations.”
Looking forward, Cissé said, “We face a new challenge; the Africa Cup of Nations 2021 is in the past, and our focus is now on the 2023 edition.”
Senegal secured their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations title in the last edition held in Cameroon in 2022, defeating Egypt in the final through a penalty shootout.
As Senegal gears up for their title defense, Cissé’s calm and determined approach underlines the team’s commitment to embracing the challenges of the upcoming tournament in pursuit of continental success.
