Senegal players want to win for under-pressure coach Cisse

[FILE]Senegal’s head coach Aliou Cisse enters the pitch before the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 semi final football match between Burkina Faso and Senegal at Stade Ahmadou-Ahidjo in Yaounde on February 2, 2022. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

Sadio Mane and Edouard Mendy say Senegal are determined to ease the pressure on coach Aliou Cisse by winning the Africa Cup of Nations tomorrow. Senegal, Nations Cup runners-up in 2019, were among the pre-tournament favourites, but endured a slow start in Cameroun.

The Teranga Lions began with a slim win over Zimbabwe followed by goalless draws against Guinea and Malawi in Group B, which led to media criticism of Cisse. But Liverpool forward, Mane’s brilliance helped them to dominating victories over Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea and Burkina Faso to reach the final.

“I believe this man [Aliou Cisse] deserves everything because he’s the most criticised coach I’ve ever seen in my life, but he never gives up,” Mane told BBC Sport Africa.

“He trusts himself, he trusts the group. He has critics outside, but right here he is doing his job.

“Most importantly, we would like to win this for him and our country because he deserves it after everything he went through as a player for Senegal and now as the coach.

“It will be a great reward for everything he has given to his country.”

Cisse won 35 caps for Senegal during his playing career and captained the side at the 2002 World Cup as they beat holders France in their opening game and went on to reach the quarterfinals.

Senegal are chasing their first-ever Nations Cup triumph, having lost on both their previous appearances in the final. Cisse, 45, has ended up on the beaten side as a player and a coach – missing the decisive penalty in the