Senegal boss Aliou Cisse wants his squad to feel if France can win the World Cup, ‘why not us?’. He also believes Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy are just as good as their rivals.
Cisse names Koulibaly and Mendy’s counterparts for Brazil, England and France as reasons why Senegal can believe in themselves. He does not feel they are any less important than Marquinhos is for the Selecao, John Stones for the Three Lions or Hugo Lloris for Les Blues.
Lloris captained France to global glory at Russia 2018 as Les Blues sealed their second title to date. The 139-cap goalkeeper played six of their seven ties and kept three clean sheets. Didier Deschamps gave the 35-year-old a rest against Denmark in their final Group C game.
Senegal can win the World Cup as Lloris ‘isn’t better’ than Mendy for boss Cisse
Senegal feature in Group A for the World Cup in 2022 against the Netherlands, host nation Qatar and Ecuador. The Lions of Teranga will play their first round games on November 21, 25 and 29. It is also their second edition with Cisse after exiting in the group stage in 2018.
Russia 2018 was Senegal’s return to the World Cup stage after 16 years away. The Lions of Teranga had failed to qualify for the 2006, 2010 and 2014 tournaments after reaching the quarter-finals in 2002. Now, Cisse believes his squad should feel they can win a first title.
“A few editions ago, we went to the World Cup to discover the competition,” Senegal boss Cisse has told The New York Times. “Then, we were there to learn. Now, we’re here to compete. African teams are going to Qatar to win.
“When I look at my midfielders, my defenders, my goalkeeper, I have nothing to envy to, say, France or Spain.
“Kalidou Koulibaly is as valuable as Marquinhos for Brazil or John Stones for England. Hugo Lloris isn’t better than Edouard Mendy. That’s the kind of confidence I want my players to have. I want them to tell themselves that if France can win, why not us?”
Lloris and Stones have the World Cup experience Mendy, in particular, lacks
Deschamps has now called Lloris up to the Tottenham Hotspur star’s fourth World Cup and third as France’s captain for Qatar 2022. He has been Les Bleus’ number one between the sticks since 2009 and took over the armband in 2011. He made his World Cup bow in 2010.
Stones made his World Cup debut with England during Russia 2018 and started all seven of their games. The Three Lions finished fourth four years ago to match their best result since winning the title in 1966. Marquinhos played just one minute through Brazil’s run in 2018.
Yet the centre-half will now be a key part of the Selecao set-up under Tite in 2022. It is the 28-year-old’s second World Cup after 2018, like Stones. Koulibaly, meanwhile, made three appearances four years ago and will now captain Senegal at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Mendy only made his international debut in Cisse’s Senegal squad following the last World Cup in November 2018. But the Chelsea stopper has been the Lions of Teranga’s number once ever since and helped the West Africans win their first-ever AFCON title in February.
Should Senegal advance from Group A, England and £47.5m Manchester City centre-back Stones could stand in Cisse’s way of winning the World Cup. The Three Lions will feature in Group B, with the winner facing the Group A runners-up and visa-versa in the Round of 16.
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