AFCON 2023: Aliou Cissé scores Cote D’Ivoire team before round 16 clash

Senegalese gaffer Aliou Cissé has spoken highly of Cote D’Ivoire’s team despite their group stage predicaments before the AFCON round of 16 tie on Monday (8:00 p.m. GMT).

Question

Tell us about your preparations for this game…

The team is doing pretty well, that showed in the first three games where we had a good run, a satisfactory run that I really like. Concerning the injured players, some have returned. Afterwards, we will take note and find out who is fit and who is not. Overall, things are going well. We refined a few details for this very important match.

Question

In terms of direct confrontations, Cote D’Ivoire holds the lead against Senegal

I do not have the ability to change the statistics and will not be able to change the past. Now we are in the present and, today, we are focused on this round of 16 match. Certainly, Senegal made a good start but all that will not matter for this match. We will face a great team from Ivory Coast who have the chance to play in front of their home crowd. It’s a very difficult match that awaits us but it has nothing to do with the past. What happened in 1992 or 2014 is behind us. Today is a different match and we want to do our best to win and move on to the next round.

Question

Should we still have the impression that Senegal has much more to offer than Ivory Coast…

I don’t see things like that. Like I said, what happened in that first round is now behind us. It’s a new competition which begins against a team which, certainly, has lost its last two matches but which will be keen to redeem itself, we are aware of that. But we have arguments to make. We know the environment and the hostility that there will be around this match but what is important is to be focused on the match and on our game plan. We want to qualify. Cote D’Ivoire are prepared to go to the end of this AFCON but we have decided to defend our trophy.

Question

Do you have the feeling of being at the head of the best team in the history of Senegalese football?

Difficult to say. I don’t like talking about myself. Others can talk about us and what we are doing. Now is not the time to work because we are in the middle of competition. What matters to us is tomorrow’s match because, if unfortunately it goes badly, we will come back to earth again.

What else maked the Ivorian team strong?

Once again, I say it: the group stage is over. Tomorrow will be another match. That we passed with nine points and Cote D’Ivoire with three points, no longer matters. A new competition is beginning. Cote D’Ivoire is among the best African teams. And again in the Elephants’ team, there are very good players. Despite losing their last two matches, we do not underestimate them because they are keen to show their fans that what happened was an accident.

Senegal has never beaten a host country in AFCON… What happens now?

Football is made of challenges. It’s certain that these are not matches that we decide. It is destiny that puts us against these teams and we must adapt and prepare accordingly. We can’t do anything about the past or the future.

Do you think that there may be an element of irrationality in Senegal – Cote D’Ivoire ?

Football has several dimensions. People talk more about tactical dimensions but there are other dimensions which are spiritual, mystical and social. Maybe you’re talking about mysticism. Others will talk about religion…

After a faultless run in the group stage, should Senegal fear a burst of pride from Cote D’Ivoire ?

We respect everyone but fear no one. We are our own adversaries and we must focus on ourselves. We did some very good things but none of that will count tomorrow. It’s finished. If we win, we continue; If we lose, we go home. So, we have to prepare.