Senegal boss Cisse won't underestimate Ivory Coast
Aliou Cisse refused to be drawn on whether he is managing the best Senegal team in history, insisting the Africa Cup of Nations holder will be brought back down to earth if it loses to host Cote d'Ivoire in the Round of 16.
Senegal lifted the trophy for the first time in 2021 under the stewardship of Cisse and topped Group C this time around with three wins from as many matches.
It faces Cote d'Ivoire for a place in the quarter-finals, with the host limping through to the knockout rounds as one of the best third-placed teams.
Cisse has an experienced squad of players and boasts the likes of Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson, Pape Matar Sarr of Tottenham Hotspur and captain Kalidou Koulibaly.
Asked if he was overseeing the best Senegal side of all time, Cisse replied: “It’s hard to say.
“I don’t like talking about myself. Others can talk about us and what we are doing.
“Now is not the time to take stock because we are in the middle of competition. What matters to us is tomorrow’s match because, if unfortunately it goes badly, we will come back to earth again.”
Cisse, though, was happier to discuss how well his team has taken to its defence of the trophy.
“Our team is going through a good period after three matches, where we achieved good results in the group stage, and I am satisfied with it,” he added.
“We will play a very difficult match. If we win, we will continue the adventure, and if we lose, we will return home.
“We qualified with nine points and the opponent with three points, this does not matter. Now a new competition has begun. Cote d'Ivoire remains a major team in Africa, it has good players.
“The defeat in its past two matches remains just an accident, it will show another performance in front of its fans.”
