2019 AFCON: Senegal coach Aliou Cisse rejects favorites tag
19th June 2019
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse insists his side are not among the favorites in the forthcoming 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Cisse believes the likes of Ivory Coast, Morocco and Tunisia stand a better chance of winning the tournament.
The Teranga Lions have been drawn along with familiar foes, Algeria, and East African countries Kenya and Tanzania in Group C.
"I say it and maintain it: Senegal is not the favorite! For this competition we will need sweat, tears and sometimes blood. In recent years, Senegal has been described as an eternal favorite, but the favorite teams are those who have already won a CAN. Cameroon, title holder, or Egypt who is the organizing country," he told galsenfoot.com.
"Ivory Coast, Tunisia or Morocco are more favored than us. But we are good challengers and we are optimistic.
"We are gradually gaining certainty about our team and our game but we must arm ourselves with humility. Being the first African team in the FIFA rankings means nothing. France, world champion, is not number one in the world rankings."