Senegal part ways with manager Aliou cisse after 9 years in charge

Wednesday, 2 October, 2024 

McCreadie Andias 

Aliou Cisse has parted ways with the Senegalese men's national football team following a 9-year tenure with the Lions of Teranga. 

The Senegal manager left the role as his contract with Senegal Football Federation (FSF) came to an end without renewal. 

The 48-year-old won the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in February 2022 by defeating Egypt on Penalties. 

The victory was more of a personal achievement for Cisse who lost the title as a player for the lions of Teranga. 

While on Management, Cisse had previously lost the 2019 AFCON Finals to Algeria in a painful 1-0 defeat. 

The FSF said on Wednesday that Cisse’s failure to win the 2023 edition of AFCON alongside their exit from the 2022 World Cup at the round-of-16 stage — losing 3-0 to England — were among the reasons for his exit.

However, FSF noted that Cisse's departure was not related to Senegal's recent fall in the latest FIFA rankings. 

“regression of our national team in the FIFA rankings and the risk of disaffection between our national team and the Senegalese people in general.”

Senegal currently stand at the 21st position in the latest FIFA rankings falling by two positions while it stands second in Africa behind Morocco who sit at 14th worldwide. 

Cisse, who won 35 caps for Senegal between 1999 and 2005, was appointed the nation’s assistant manager in 2012 before a stint as caretaker manager from February of that year until April 2012.

He spent time as Senegal’s under-23 manager between 2012 and 2015 before becoming manager of the senior team in March 2015.