“We don’t want to think about a return to Senegal”

Aliou Cissé, faced with the style of the Equateur team, what will you favor ? The explosiveness of your young players or the experience of your executives ?

We will combine the two. We have players with these characteristics. The high level also requires experience: that of major events and decisive matches. We have formed a homogeneous team, which combines experience and youth. All of our players are high level competitors. And tomorrow [le 29 novembre, Ndlr]I know that this fiber, this DNA of competitors, we will have it.

How do you handle the pressure of having to win against Ecuador for Senegal to qualify for the 2022 World Cup Round of 16? ?

We manage it well, this pressure. Players have worked for years to get to this level. We know that winning will give us the opportunity to continue this adventure. Losing would force us to go home. But we don’t want to think about it. The scenario is clear, especially compared to the 2018 World Cup where we knew that one point could be enough to qualify, with calculations on the side. While there, things are crystal clear.

We are moving towards a very difficult match, against a team that defends well and is very aggressive. But it’s been our daily life for seven years and I’ve been in this position as coach: pressure matches, decisive ones… High-level football, that’s it and that’s what we want, in reality.

Could the Senegalese fans accept that the Lions do not qualify for the round of 16 of the tournament, given their status as African champions and the experience they have acquired in previous competitions? ? And do these popular expectations generate negative pressure ?

I come from a country where we don’t like to party, where we always want to win. Of course not passing would be something difficult to digest… But what matters is to do what is necessary to give yourself the chance to win.

Statements taken at a press conference

To (re) read ► 2022 World Cup: match schedule and results