Senegal coach Aliou Cisse could miss his side’s final World Cup clash with England due to illness.
Cisse was absent for his press conference ahead of the knockout tie, with his assistant, Regis Bogaert, taking on media duties instead.
AFP
With Sadio Mane injured, Cissé is Senegal’s star man
Bogaert said Cisse had been ill for several days and had been unable to train ahead of the game against England.
“He’s been sick for a few days now,” Bogaert said.
“He let us take charge of training yesterday, obviously with his instructions to the players.
“I hope tomorrow he can come and be on the bench with the players but we are sure that at 10 p.m. he will be there with the team.
“I can confirm that he is ill and has a bit of a temperature, so we have to pay attention to his situation.”
Cisse, who played for Paris Saint-Germain, Portsmouth and Birmingham as a player, has enjoyed an era of unprecedented success since his appointment as Senegal manager in 2015.
Getty
Bogaert took the Senegal press conference instead
He guided the team to their second Africa Cup of Nations final in 2019, before winning the tournament earlier in 2022.
But despite his possible absence, ‘The Teranga’ Lions always feel positive.
“We feel calm and confident,” Bogaert said. “We know Senegal can beat England, that’s what we are aiming for.
“I think we’ll get more excited as the game gets closer, but you have to stay calm and focused on the goal – and obviously our goal is to get into the next round.
“Four years ago we had this experience but the team grew, we lost and won a [AFCON] final and the team grows and matures.
“That maturity is very important at international level, African teams have to be ambitious and they are good enough to take on anyone and we are capable of beating anyone.
AFP
Cissé led Senegal to their first AFCON crown
“When we go out on the pitch, we have to be aware of that. The more you play for the best clubs in the world, the more you mature and become top-notch players and that’s what we’re seeing now.
“I hope the English will underestimate us and we will surprise them, that’s what we are looking for.”
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