It’s a grey sky that hangs above the African champions. Seven and a-half months after the coronation of the CAN champions, Senegal awaits with full confidence the World Cup which will begin in 8 weeks. If at the CAN, Aliou Cissé had already had to deal with Nampalys Mendy and Bouna Sarr, two holders in deficit of playing time, the Senegalese coach must be even more blood of ink given the current situation of several of these executives in delicacy in their respective clubs.
Executives in doubt
It is a damaged group that Aliou Cissé recovers. Some of his executives arrive with uncertainty and the coach will need to fix their heads. Many African champions have had to change settings this summer. His goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, already forfeited, injured in the club, has lost momentum in recent weeks. The one who was considered to be the best goalkeeper on earth, Edouard Mendy, continues to make mistakes and is under threat by the Spaniard Kepa.
All of the holders in the final CAN last February are in danger. Koulibaly, who has been less sovereign since joining Chelsea, will have to contend with stiff competition. Like Abdou Diallo, who is now at RB Leipzig. What about Bouna Sarr who was injured and has been forfeited for the World Cup, Saliou Ciss, best right side of CAN 2021, and without a club since he left AS Nancy?
The situation is not much better in the midfield with Idrissa Guèye pushed out by his former club, PSG and who will have to convince the coach of Everton Lampard. Cheikhou Kouyaté leaves Crystal Palace for the promoted Nottingham Forest. If he is still in the same club, Pape Guèye is less in demand at OM where he has started one game in four since the start of the season with the change of coach with the Phocaeans. Barred by Wilfried Ndidi, Boubakary Soumaré and Dewsbury-Hall, Nampalys Mendy, meanwhile, has not played a single minute in the league after 7 days. Even if he was able to perform well in the CAN, it is doubtful that the 30-year old midfielder can do the same in a tournament like the World Cup.
The summer that saw the attack on Senegal was also a very eventful one. Sadio Mané and Boulaye Dia changed clubs while despite negotiations, Bamba Dieng and Ismaïla Sarr finally stayed in their respective clubs. Best CAN player and African footballer of the year, Sadio Mané had an idyllic start to his adventure with Bayern Munich. Bambali, the jewel of Bambali, saw a worrying scarcity in 6 games without scoring. Sarr’s fragility is questioned as Dieng arrives without playing time for this rally. Famara Diedhiou is absent from the list. Only BoulayeDia arrives in confidence to regroup.
Blues to be held accountable as soon possible
Never Aliou Cissé had called so many new players. In his last list, 7 blues were called up for the matches against Iran and Bolivia. Moussa Niakhate (Nottingham Forest), Formose Mendy (Amiens), Noah Fadiga (Brest), Pathé Ciss (Rayo Vallecano), Mory Diaw (Clermont), Ismaïl Jakobs (AS Monaco) and Nicolas Jackson (Villareal). Blues that could be very quickly thrown into trouble, as the coach admitted at a press conference.
Some players’ delicate situations make it possible for these blues to integrate the 11 type of Senegal. Decimated on the side positions with the absences of Ciss, Sabaly and Bouna Sarr, Senegal could see from this gathering the first tenures of Ismaïl Jakobs and Formose Mendy. Moussa Nakhate would also be able to play with a new system, with three central defenses.
In the midfield, Pathé Ciss will have a good part to play ahead of Nampalys Mendy, Kouyaté and Pape Guèye. Holder in La Liga together with Rayo, Saliou Ciss’ younger brother offers more rhythm and competitiveness for the coach. Nicolas Jackson is making a strong start in La Liga with Villareal. The former Casa Sports player participated in the 6 days of the Iberian championship, scoring 5 goals and providing an assist. While Ismaïla Sarr was injured on September 13 during the 9th day of English D2, Jackson could be offered his first minutes with the Teranga Lions.
Express assimilation of 5-3-2
Often regarded as pragmatic and defensive. Aliou CisseHe should not settle for his World Cup 4-3-3. When asked about the possibility of playing in a 5-3-2 at the World Cup, the Senegalese technician said that he has several tactical options. “We have the potential to play in a 3-5-2. This system is also used by most of our defenders at club level. Since I took over this selection, I’ve tried it at most four times. He conceded yesterday at a press conference. It is difficult to make a tactical revolution two months before the World Cup, even if you are not balanced in certain positions. We did try things in training, and would love to do them in these games.“.
Adaptations that should still take place during matches because of the former captain for the Lions, we cannot deny the 4-3-3 “We will stick to what we know how, on the strategy, tactics that made us who we are today, which earned us the African Cup and qualified us for the FIFA Cup. World”.
Moustapha M. SADIO
Source: sportnewsafrica