“This time, I’m not talking about the final but about the cup. You will have to fight to bring us back the cupSenegalese leader Macky Sall said, addressing staff and players at the presidential palace in Wolof. In a few days, Sadio Mané’s gang will play the African Cup of Nations (CAN) in Cameroon.
Encouragement a few days before kick-off
“You can do it. You are the best tactically, technically and qualitatively“, he continued in French, the rest being now a question of”will” and of “fighting spirit” according to him.
The Head of State presented the national flag to the players, who had joined the palace aboard the regional express train put into service a few days earlier between Dakar and its suburbs.
Competition favorites
The Senegalese, among the favorites of the competition, were to take off in the evening for Cameroon, where the CAN is played from January 9 to February 6. Senegal, which has never won the CAN, missed the boat in the final in 2000 against Cameroon and in 2019 against Algeria.
The Lions, led by Liverpool striker Sadio Mané and Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, will face Zimbabwe in Group B on January 10, Guinea on January 14 and Malawi on the 18th.