Senegal coach Aliou Cisse has refused to underestimate the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire despite the poor outing of the hosts in the group stage of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Cisse side who are looking at defending their 2021 AFCON title picked up all possible nine points from the group stage to qualify as winners of Group C and the only team with an impeccable record in the ongoing competition so far.
Quizzed if he was managing the best Senegal side of all time, Cisse replied: “It’s hard to say.
“I don’t like talking about myself. Others can talk about us and what we are doing.
“Now is not the time to take stock because we are in the middle of competition. What matters to us is tomorrow’s match because, if unfortunately it goes badly, we will come back to earth again.”
On how well Senegal have taken to their campaign to defend their AFCON crown, Cisse said, “Our team is going through a good period after three matches, where we achieved good results in the group stage, and I am satisfied with it.”
Cisse said the quarter-final clash with Cote D’Ivoire will be a difficult adventure despite the host’s poor run in the group stage.
“We will play a very difficult match. If we win, we will continue the adventure, and if we lose, we will return home.
“We qualified with nine points and the opponent with three points, this does not matter. Now a new competition has begun. Cote d’Ivoire remains a major team in Africa, it has good players.
“The defeat in its past two matches remains just an accident, it will show another performance in front of its fans,” the Senegal coach said.