The Lionesses of Senegal received unexpected news while they were still in training at the Jules François Bocandé technical football center in Yéne, Dakar. Their opponents, Guinea Bissau, withdrew from the 2014 Women’s CAN qualifiers, automatically granting Senegal qualification for the final round.
“We were informed by the Senegalese Football Federation about Guinea Bissau’s withdrawal, who were our opponents in the first round of the CAN 2014 qualifiers,” said Senegal Lionesses coach Bossouaré Diaby.
Despite the sudden qualification, Diaby emphasized that his players had been preparing diligently since January 26 to face Guinea Bissau. However, he acknowledged that the withdrawal was not necessarily a setback as it allowed Senegal to progress to the final round without playing a match.
The final round will present a tougher challenge for the Senegalese women as they will face the Lionesses of Cameroon. Diaby recognized the caliber of the opposition, noting that Cameroon, along with South Africa and Equatorial Guinea, are prominent countries in women’s football and were the finalists of the last two Women’s CAN tournaments.
Nevertheless, Diaby expressed confidence in his team’s abilities, stating that Senegal would seize every opportunity to qualify for the tournament, just as they did for the first time in their history during the 2012 Women’s CAN.
