YAOUNDE, Cameroon – Having led Senegal in three African Cup of Nations final tournaments, Aliou Cisse has brought a star in each of them to explode on the global scene.
In Gabon 2017, Cisse, former Teranga Lions captain, introduced former Génération Foot youngster Ismaila Sarr, who was starting to make a name for himself in France with FC Metz.
While having many forwards, Cisse integrated the native of Saint-Louis into his workforce by bringing him in and giving him his first start against Algeria in Franceville.
Back from the AFCON where Senegal was eliminated in the quarterfinals by eventual champions Cameroon on penalties, Sarr made a name for himself in the French championship by becoming one of FC Metz stars, who sold him at the end of the season to Stade Rennais.
In 2019 in Egypt, Aliou Cisse was still betting on youth by incorporating Krépin Diatta, a product of the U-20 AFCON in Zambia 2017 and was on the books of Belgian side Club Bruges.
Unlike Sarr, Diatta had an earlier learning of the AFCON, playing Senegal’s first match against Tanzania where he scored his first international goal.
Diatta has become a regular in Senegal national team, but only a serious injury prevented him from taking part in this AFCON edition in Cameroon.
At this 2021 edition, Cisse adopted the same method according to which one does not change a winning strategy.
And once again, the Senegalese tactician, for his 3rd AFCON finals, recalls striker Ahmadou Bamba Dieng who is starting to make a name for himself in Marseille in the French championship with three goals scored at the start of the season. Called up during the double header against Namibia in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the young striker cemented his place in the national team.
At 21, the former Diambars forward was called up with young teammate Pape Matar Sarr for this AFCON 2021.
Bamba Dieng took advantage of the minutes gleaned to score his first AFCON goal, and his maiden one for Senegal on the Tuesday 2-0 win over Cape Verde in the Round of 16.
Dieng performance did not go unnoticed by his predecessors, such as Habib Beye, current coach of Red Star (France) who described him as “the ideal complement to Sadio Mane” in the Senegalese attack.
Senegal roared into the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations after defeating Cape Verde Cape 2-0 in the round of 16 match.
Sadio Mane and Bamba Dieng’s second half goals sealed the victory for Aliou Cisse’s men in a game which saw two Cape Verde players receive a red card.
The match was played on the backdrop of a somber atmosphere as the two teams observed a moment of silence ahead of kickoff in memory of the victims of the Olembe Stadium incident which happened last night.
The Teranga were first to get an opening in the game when Sadio Mane saw his shot come off the post a minute into the game. Cape Verde was already on the back foot and suffered a blow when they were reduced to 10 men, Patrick Andrade getting a red card.
Very few chances followed as neither side couldn’t find the net in the first period. Papa Gueye had a go in the six yard box just before halftime but his effort was high.
Senegal continued to press forward in the second half but couldn’t register any shot on target at the hour mark.
The Blue Sharks had a rare chance in the 53 minute with Ianique dos Santos Tavares heading wide. Cape Verde then saw another red card with Josimar Dias getting an early shower. After a VAR check, the red card stood despite the protests from the Islanders.
Eventually, Cape Verde cracked and with a shortage in personnel, Sadio Mane opened the scoring with a right footed effort from a set piece situation.
Cape Verde coach Pedro Brito in trying to make some tweaks to the team brought on Júlio Tavares in the place of Kenny Rocha Santos, and Lisandro Semedo for Ryan Mendes.
Idrissa Gueye had an opportunity to add a second for Senegal 4 minutes before the full-time whistle but his attempt went few inches wide of the goal.
