Aliou Cisse he is the captain Senegal the first time it penetrates World Cup 2022 round of 16. 20 years ago, Cisse was the coach.
Cisse joined Senegalese football’s first golden generation, which took the footballing world by storm in the Japan-South Korea match two decades ago.
Cisse, who plays as a centre-back, guided the Teranga Lions to the last 16 in their first World Cup appearance.
Overall, defending champions France came close 0-1 in their first match which meant the country were eliminated in the group stage.
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Aliou Cisse defends Senegal at the 2002 World Cup Photo: Bongarts/Getty Images/Henri Szwarc
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Senegal progressed to the quarter-finals before being eliminated on penalties by Turkey. Senegal and Cameroon are the African countries with the best results at the World Cup.
At the time, Cisse was Senegal’s leading defender who could also operate as a midfielder. He was capped 35 times before retiring in 2005.
Twenty years later, fate brought Cisse to a similar result. This time, Cisse once again led Senegal to qualify for the round of 16 of the World Cup as a coach!
Uniquely, this is the second time the Teranga Lions have done so after 2002. Because Senegal’s results had faded after the 2002 World Cup as they had never qualified in three consecutive editions, before appearing in Russia 2018 .
Senegal earned a ticket to the round of 16 as runners-up in Group A after beating Ecuador 2-1 at the Khalifa International Stadium on Tuesday (29/11/2022) night WIB.
“We don’t know who we’ll be facing in the round of 16: it can be England, it can be Wales, Iran, the United States, whoever. They’re all good teams, the best teams in the world compete here. So we have to be unlucky to face anyone” said Aliou Cisse as quoted Playing sports.
Senegal will face England in the Round of 16 at Al Bayt Stadium, Sunday (4/12/2022) early morning WIB.
(mrp/then)
