Senegal coach Cisse believes African teams are gradually getting there

Senegal coach Aliou Cisse says it will be very unfair for anyone to negatively evaluate indigenous African coaches’ performances at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

For the first time at the World Cup, two African coaches reached the last 16 after Senegal and Morocco did so under Cisse and Walid Regragui, respectively, in Qatar.

Cisse made a last-16 exit with Senegal after losing 3-0 to England on December 4.

It is also the first time an African team had reached the last 16 since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil when Nigeria did so under another indigenous coach, the late Stephen Keshi.

And it was the first time that all five of Africa’s coaches at the FIFA World Cup were all Africans who had played for their respective national teams.

Furthermore, Morocco became the fourth African nation to book a spot in the quarterfinals at a World Cup after Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010).

Morocco beat Spain in a last-16 penalty shoot-out on Tuesday to reach the last eight of a World Cup for the first time.

AFRICAN FOOTBALL ON THE RIGHT TRACK

“African football is improving. But we are not making a decree like that; we will soon become world champions,” said Cisse.

Cisse correctly identified some key elements that needed to be addressed for what is the great divide Africa needs to bridge with Europe and South last-16, something that has become a song for generations.

“With (good) infrastructure, state policies, we will improve.

“There is the will to train coaches, referees and to no longer rely on a spontaneous generation to make advances. We must not be discouraged.

“The will to also believe in the Cisse project in Dakar has been a factor for Senegal who has kept faith in their legendary former defender since his appointment in 2015,” added Cisse.

For Cisse, his Senegal side ends 2022 on a high after reaching their second last 16 finish since making their debut at Japan/South Korea in 2002 in a team he was part of as a player.

It comes after Senegal capped a milestone in 2022 under Cisse, who guided The Lions of Teranga to their debut AFCON title in January.

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