Senegal Dismisses Aliou Cissé After Nine Years of Historic Success

Cissé, who took the helm in 2015, transformed Senegal into Africa’s football powerhouse. Under his leadership, Senegal consistently ranked as the continent’s top team for four consecutive years, reaching the AFCON final in 2019 and securing World Cup appearances in 2018 and 2022. His triumph at the 2022 AFCON was seen as a landmark achievement, cementing his legacy as one of Senegal’s greatest coaches.

However, recent performances fell short of expectations. The team was unable to advance to the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and hopes of retaining the AFCON title in 2023 were dashed. These setbacks appear to have prompted the decision to part ways with Cissé, despite the FSF’s initial intentions to extend his contract.

The move comes as Senegal prepares for the next round of qualifiers, and it has raised questions about the direction of the national team. While Cissé’s departure marks the end of an era, his influence on Senegalese football will be remembered for setting new standards of success and inspiring a generation of players. The next head coach will face the challenge of continuing the momentum Cissé helped build while meeting the heightened expectations of Senegal’s footballing future.