Aliou Cissé’s nearly decade-long tenure as head coach of Senegal’s senior men’s national football team has concluded, as the Senegal Football Federation confirmed on Wednesday that the country’s sports ministry will not renew his contract.
The 48-year-old coach, who led Senegal to their first Africa Cup of Nations title in 2022, has been notified that his contract, which expired in August, will not be renewed to allow him to oversee the upcoming AFCON-World Cup cycle.
The Senegalese Football Federation announced on Wednesday that Aliou Cissé’s contract which expired in August would not be renewed, following a confidential letter received from the Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture, Mrs. Khady Diene Gaye. The decision came after Cissé failed to meet the objectives outlined in his contract.
Although Cissé led Senegal to their first Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title two-and-a-half years ago, the team was unable to defend their title in Ivory Coast earlier this year, which was one of his key targets. In 2022, Senegal also fell short of reaching the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals, losing to England in the round of 16.
Additional reasons for the non-renewal included “the regression of our national team in the FIFA rankings and the risk of disenchantment between our national team and the Senegalese people.”
“Mr. Cissé is no longer covered by a contract duly approved by the state of Senegal, and can no longer take charge of the national team,” the federation confirmed to reporters.
The Ministry of Sports has requested that the Senegalese Football Federation appoint a new technical team to guide the national side through their qualification campaign for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. An interim coaching staff will manage the team’s upcoming AFCON-qualifying double-header against Malawi, scheduled for October 11 and 15.
Aliou Cissé, who was expected to announce his squad for the fixtures in a press conference on Friday, will no longer do so following the termination of his contract.
In a statement, the Federation expressed its gratitude to Cissé, stating: “The Senegalese Federation [thanks] Mr Cissé for his good collaboration and his gleaming results at the head of various national teams since his arrival in 2011,” the communique said.
“We wish him much success for the future.”
Senegal has not lost a competitive match in regulation time since their defeat by England in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Their AFCON elimination earlier this year came after a penalty shootout loss to eventual champions Ivory Coast in the round of 16.
Since the Nations Cup, Senegal has won four of their six matches, including away victories over Mauritania and Burundi in World Cup and AFCON qualifiers. However, home performances have raised concerns among supporters, following 1-1 draws against the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burkina Faso in Diamniadio.
Cissé, born in Ziguinchor, famously captained the Senegal team that defeated defending world champions France in their debut World Cup match in 2002. That year, Senegal reached both the World Cup quarterfinals and the AFCON final, where they lost to Cameroon on penalties.
As a defensive midfielder, Aliou Cissé enjoyed a 15-year professional career, representing clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, Birmingham City, and Portsmouth in France and England. After retiring from playing, he joined Senegal’s national coaching setup, initially as assistant coach of the under-23 team in 2012.
Earlier this year, during the Africa Cup of Nations, Cissé was hospitalized in Yamoussoukro following Senegal’s group-stage win over Cameroon, where he was diagnosed with a “benign infectious pathology.”
Liverpool legend and Senegal forward Sadio Mané paid tribute to Cissé on social media, writing: “You’ve been the positive embodiment of our national team during this decade. Your time on our bench will not be in vain. We will always see in you a man who loves the flag of his country and who fought to raise our colours high. Thank you, champion, for your service.”
Senegal’s goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, who lifted the Nations Cup under Cissé’s leadership, also expressed his gratitude.
“Aliou, thank you. Thank you for having given me the opportunity to wear the Senegal shirt,” Mendy wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of Cissé holding the AFCON trophy during the team’s bus parade in Dakar in February 2022. I am proud and honoured to have shared so many good moments with you, including the historic moment when we lifted the first African Cup of Nations for our country Senegal. Thank you for your trust, and I wish you the best for the future.” He wrote.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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