Cairo - Senegal coach Aliou
Cisse believes the Africa Cup of Nations group stage
defeat by Algeria helped fuel their run
to the final, where they will meet the same opponents Friday for the title in
Cairo.
Algeria beat Senegal 1-0 in their second game of the
tournament in Egypt, but Cisse's side have since won all four matches without
conceding a goal, leaving the Teranga Lions on the cusp of a first Cup of
Nations crown.
"It was a misstep for us. Algeria are a great team
and we respect them. We're in the final now and determined to win to put it
simply," Cisse told reporters Thursday.
"The defeat in the group allowed us to remotivate
ourselves and become stronger. A final is a different match. We are very calm
and concentrated with great players and a strong collective unit."
"We slipped up in the first game against Algeria and
we understood that and drew lessons from it," added midfielder Krepin
Diatta, who played in the Under-20 Cup of Nations final two years ago.
Cisse, 43, was captain of the Senegal side that reached
the 2002 final in Bamako, missing the decisive penalty in a shootout loss to
Cameroon.
"Seventeen years without Senegal getting to the final
is a long time. I think there have been several editions since then. There was
lots of disappointment and tears after 2017 (quarter-final exit)," said
the former Paris Saint-Germain and Birmingham City midfielder.
"Here we are with a talented generation. We want more
than just to get to the final. We hope to put in a great display tomorrow and
win this Cup of Nations.
"Finals are often tight matches, with lots of emotion
and stress. The finer points will decide it. There are two great teams, I hope
it will be a great party and the football will live up to expectations."
Senegal must do without defensive rock Kalidou Koulibaly,
who is suspended for the final after two yellow cards in the knockout phase.
His absence is a huge blow to a backline breached just
once in this competition, with Salif Sane, injured during Senegal's opening
match against Tanzania, likely to start alongside Cheikhou Kouyate.
"Kalidou is an exceptional boy and one of the best
defenders in the world. I'm sad he won't be with us. He's a great patriot and
he's someone with great character. It's a loss for us but we have 23 players,
including those who can cover for Koulibaly's absence. We'll also be playing
for him tomorrow," said Cisse.
Source: Sport24
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