Former Senegal coach Amara Traoré, in an interview with Afrikfoot, spoke about Senegal’s chances of making a double at the next African Cup of Nations in Cameroon. The former Messin also gave his favorites, with Algeria and Ivory Coast.
Reigning African champion after a victory on penalties against Egypt on February 6, 2022, Senegal has a title to defend in Ivory Coast, during the next and 34th edition of the African Cup of Nations. Will the Lions of Teranga be able to keep the prestigious trophy on Ivorian soil? This is the question that Amara Traoré, former coach of the national team, tried to answer.
Amara Traoré believes in Senegal’s double
Asked about Senegal’s title chances, the former coach rather thinks that the Lions of Teranga have the capacity to retain their title in Ivory Coast. Very optimistic, the former Al-Wahda player, however, wanted to warn Aliou Cissé and his players of their opponents in the group stage.
“It’s a party, a big meeting that we’re all waiting for. I had the chance to make the CAN as a player and as a coach. We are African champions and we dream of winning two or three times in a row like Egypt. It’s going to be very difficult but the signals are green. It’s the same team, the same coach. For two years, this team has won almost all its matches, including prestigious matches against Brazil or Cameroon. She certainly lost against Algeria but had a good match. The Senegal pool is very difficult with two derbies against Gambia and Guinea in addition to a Clasico against Cameroon. All matches will be finals. There will be no respite ,” declared Amara Traoré.
Drawn in the group of death, accompanied by Gambia, Guinea of Kaba Diawara, and also Cameroon, Senegal has an interest in taking all the meetings seriously, if it does not want to experience the same disillusionment as Algeria, during CAN 2019 in Cameroon. Winners of the edition in Egypt, the Fennecs were surprisingly eliminated in the group phase. Djamel Belmadi and his team began their adventure with a disappointing draw against Sierra Leone, before suffering two defeats against Ivory Coast and then Equatorial Guinea.
Amara Traoré reveals her favourites
After revealing Senegal’s title chances and warning Aliou Cissé and his troop, Amara Traoré then spoke about his favourites for CAN 2023 in Ivory Coast. In addition to Senegal, which is automatically favourite, the former coach of Jaraaf also cited Morocco of Walid Regragui, semi-finalist of the last edition of the World Cup in Qatar, Algeria of Djamel Belmadi, despite the fiasco in 2023 in Cameroon, the Ivory Coast organizing country, Cameroon finally Egypt of Mohamed Salah.
“I see Morocco after its great World Cup. We will see if the dynamic is still there. Algeria made a strong impression on me in Dakar against Senegal. It was an excellent choice on their part to come and play in Senegal to familiarize themselves with the environment of Ivory Coast. They transformed this pressure to impose themselves. Algeria is a formidable outsider. We also have teams like Nigeria and Cameroon, who hide their game. They are the Germans of Africa. We also have the host country, Ivory Coast. They may be in the unknown. There is also Egypt. Senegal is naturally favorite as title holder,” said Amara Diouf.
On January 15, Senegal will enter the competition with a shock against Guinea. Three days later, Aliou Cissé and his men will challenge Cameroon, before ending the group phase with a derby against Guinea. A poster eagerly awaited by football lovers.
