Senegal coach devastated by emotional scenes after AFCON exit
Senegal's hopes of retaining their Africa Cup of Nations crown were dashed in a dramatic penalty shootout defeat against Cote d'Ivoire, leaving coach Aliou Cisse grappling with the challenge of rebuilding his shattered team.
Senegal's national football team suffered a heartbreaking exit from the Africa Cup of Nations last 16 stage, succumbing to a shock penalty shootout defeat against Cote d'Ivoire.
Aliou Cisse, the head coach, couldn't hide his disappointment as he consoled his devastated players in the locker room following the dramatic 5-4 loss on penalties after a 1-1 draw in extra time.
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"We came here to retain the title and play for our people," lamented Cisse, expressing his disappointment at falling short of their championship aspirations. The coach revealed the emotional toll of witnessing his players in tears, describing the match as "strange and complicated" despite Senegal's dominance for much of the game.
Senegal had maintained a lead until the 86th minute when Franck Kessie converted a penalty to level the scores. Reflecting on the outcome, Cisse acknowledged his team's failure to manage the game effectively in crucial moments, ultimately leading to their demise in the penalty shootout.
"We lost on penalties; we kept our lead until the last 5 minutes. I am disappointed after this defeat, especially after our performance and from the first match," said Cisse, highlighting the missed opportunity to capitalize on their strong start to the tournament.
Senegal’s coach, Aliou Cissé, has this morning been named the coach of the group stage at #AFCON2023 for winning 3 out of 3 games 👏🏾👏🏾
— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) January 30, 2024
With Senegal's trophy defense abruptly ended, Cisse acknowledged the need for changes within the team as they embark on a journey of rebuilding. "We need to make changes after this defeat; we'll see what happens in the future. There is sorrow, and our players are sad, as is the Senegalese people," admitted Cisse, recognizing the collective disappointment felt by fans back home.
Despite the bitter disappointment, Cisse found solace in Senegal's undefeated group stage campaign. "We prepared well and let's not forget we have 3 wins in 3 matches," he added, reflecting on the team's achievements leading up to their untimely exit from the tournament.
As Senegal comes to terms with their elimination, Cisse emphasized the importance of resilience and determination in bouncing back stronger from adversity.
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