Aliou Cisse admits Senegal will be without their finest player for the World Cup, but says his team is “ready for the challenge.”
Sadio Mane, the African champions’ standout player, will miss the competition after undergoing surgery on a fibula injury sustained in Bayern Munich’s 6-1 thumping of Werder Bremen 12 days ago.
Mane’s significance to Senegal is highlighted by the fact that he has been involved in 12 of the previous 25 goals scored by Cisse’s team in World Cup or Africa Cup of Nations finals.
And his absence has necessitated a tactical rethink ahead of the team’s opening against the Netherlands on Monday at Doha’s Al Thumama Stadium.
Aliou Cisse’s comment
Cisse said: “Obviously it’s a great shame for Sadio and the team, but we have to think of the player’s well-being.
“It’s a great challenge as all coaches build their team around the best player and that’s the case for us.
“But we have a strong team with experienced players and young players who are ready to rise to this challenge. I am sure we have a strong enough team. It’s not easy to play without a player like Sadio and we have a strong opponent in the Netherlands, but the players are ready.”
Senegal winger Krepin Diatta was less optimistic, conceding that Mane’s absence had an influence on the group.
The Monaco man said: “Sadio is an extremely important player for our team and we are determined to do what we can without him.
“But of course it affects you, he is our best player and leader. We’d like him to be here, but God decided otherwise.”
Senegal exited the 2018 World Cup in Russia at the group stage, but Cisse feels that experience, as well as their AFCON victory earlier this year, can help them advance in Qatar.
“In 2018, it had been such a long time since Senegal had been to a World Cup, and we are now getting another chance,” he added.
“We are African champions and we have new, excellent players that have strengthened the squad. Hopefully the mistakes of Russia won’t be repeated.”
On Monday, Louis van Gaal will be in the opposite dugout, a guy Cisse characterized as a “benchmark,” and the former PSG midfielder feels bringing his nation to consecutive World Cups is another shot in the arm for African coaches, five of whom are in Qatar.
He said: “It’s progress that we have been seeing for some years now. We are aware that people are looking at us. If we lose in the first round, people will say we aren’t good enough.
“I was born in Senegal – it’s important to understand the realities of the country you are managing. We are proud to represent African coaches and it’s a message we are sending them that they can also be at the highest level.”
