As the referee blew his final whistle for the night time, a wad of dreadlocks fell to the ground. Coach Aliu Cisse felt a wave of aid after Senegal reached the round-of-16 for the second time in his nation’s historical past. A late winner by defender Kalidou Koulibaly earned the nation a valuable win over Ecuador and a knockout-stage showdown towards England on the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
However, for Cisse, a return to the knockout stage was a spot he fondly remembers. He has repeated a feat he had as soon as completed a couple of many years earlier – solely that point he was captain, and his staff had just lately ousted France, the reigning world champions.
Trace the profession of Aliu Cisse and you will note the markings of a person outlined by his failures. He didn’t win the 2002 African Cup of Nations towards Cameroon as a participant after lacking a penalty as captain. When that incident occurred, he instructed a pal that he would make it his life’s mission to win the African Cup of Nations for his nation Senegal, if not as a participant, then as a coach.
A couple of months after that proclamation, Senegal would go on to defeat reigning world champions France within the 2002 World Cup and knock them out of Seoul. A couple of many years later, Cisse coached Senegal to their first African Cup of Nations victory when the Sadio Mane-led aspect defeated Mohamed Salah-led Egypt in Cameroon.
Even this World Cup marketing campaign comes with its personal promise of reliving the trauma. In the 2018 version, Cisse’s Senegal grew to become the primary staff in World Cup historical past to be eradicated from the event’s group stage on truthful play tiebreaker guidelines. This occurred after they had been degree on factors with Japan, however had been eradicated from the event as a consequence of a excessive variety of yellow playing cards. This time although, Senegal made certain that no such rule would resolve their destiny.
His reward for a profitable group stage? A showdown towards Gareth Southgate’s England.
Senegal head coach Aliu Cisse offers instructions to his gamers throughout the World Cup Group A match between Ecuador and Senegal at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Known as ‘El Tactico’ due to his mandate to take a extra measured method on the pitch, Cisse spoke to The New York Times forward of the World Cup and stated his staff is at least others.
“When I take a look at my midfielders, my defenders, my goalkeeper, I’ve nothing to envy France or Spain. Kalidou Koulibaly is as priceless as Marquinhos for Brazil or John Stones for England. Hugo Lloris No higher than Edward Mendy. I need my gamers to have that form of confidence. I need them to say to themselves if France can win why cannot we?
France and Cisse have had a particular relationship. At the age of 14, the midfielder moved to the youth academy of Lille. He continued to develop as a footballer in France within the late 90s, taking part in for French golf equipment reminiscent of CS Sedan Ardennes and Paris Saint-Germain. Defeat to the French nationwide staff introduced Cisse into the English Premier League the place he performed for Birmingham City and was despatched off on his debut towards Arsenal.
Senegal head coach Aliu Cisse directs his gamers throughout the World Cup Group A soccer match between Ecuador and Senegal at Khalifa International Stadium on Tuesday, November 29, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
After his taking part in profession ended, Cisse moved up the teaching ranks. His first actual stint with Senegal started when he took cost of the U23 staff in 2012 after which graduated to the primary staff in 2015. The steady turnover of Senegalese coaches ended along with his appointment.
“From 2002 to 2015, not a single coach in Senegal has been there for greater than two years. How do you wish to accomplish something? This is not possible and our leaders have to grasp this. He did it with me. When I took over the staff in 2015, individuals had been asking: ‘Why are you giving him the staff? He has no expertise. But I knew the expectations and the truth of this nationwide staff,” Cisse instructed the NYT.
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One of the key modifications applied in Senegal was to make sure that all their gamers from numerous European golf equipment would arrive on the similar time and get used to their nation. They would have time for native foods and drinks however soccer at all times got here first.
He additionally succeeded in integrating native individuals, gamers who had been a part of Senegal’s league or performed in Africa, with gamers who plied their commerce in Europe and returned dwelling just for worldwide obligation – As he as soon as was.
The consequence – a staff that had gone with out three consecutive World Cup qualifying and poor African Nations Cup outcomes made a change. Since 2015, Senegal has made it to the quarter-finals, the ultimate after which gained the most important African event. They have certified for 2 World Cups regardless of Africa solely having 5 spots within the 32-team format.
But most significantly, Cisse has a era of footballers who imagine in him and his strategies. Most of them got here with him and attribute the flight of their nationwide careers to him.
Most of them have been a part of the ups and downs within the final seven years. Players reminiscent of Sane, Koulibaly and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy play at prime European golf equipment and Cisse is buoyed by his perception that this staff operates at a excessive degree – excessive sufficient to knock among the prime European groups off their perch – as He did as soon as.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
