Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has expressed great optimism about his team’s ability to overcome Madagascar in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2022 in Algeria on Tuesday.
Thiaw told the media on Monday in a pre-match press conference that the Teranga Lions have what it takes to qualify for the final of the continental tournament for the first time in the country’s history.
“Before talking about the semi-final match, I first of all want to congratulate coach [Romuald] Rakotondrabe for being chosen as the best coach in the group stages. About the semi-finals, we know why we are in this tournament, and we are preparing well and calmly.”
Thiaw, who is coaching at his first major tournament, is anxious to continue the Senegalese fairytale that has seen the West African nation enjoy fine form since they won the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2021 in Cameroon last February as well as winning a fourth straight Beach Soccer AFCON in October last year in Mozambique.
Senegal also won the West African Football Association (WAFU) A Women’s Championship on Sunday in Cape Verde to defend their title and this momentum is what Thiaw wants his side in Algeria to emulate.
“Senegalese football works continuously and continuously. There is qualification for all competitions in all age groups and formats. We are doing beautiful things. We have to support our national teams that are making tremendous efforts in the field and our work is beginning to show the fruits. I am enjoying it so far, and our country needs more than that.”
Thiaw acknowledged the strength of the Malagasy side and said, “Madagascar score a lot of goals. From our side we have conceded one goal, and we are now in the semi-finals.
The best way to defend is to attack. We must avoid imposing their way of playing on us. Things can be put in place to prevent the opponents from applying their game, and we hope to do the right thing during the match
The matches are not the same. We have done well, and we try to play during the match in our own way. We know that Madagascar has special players, and they have skills. We are focusing on the match. We have our means and our weapons, and we will show that during the match. I hope our weapons are effective and good.”
He continued, “We do not focus too much on the opponent. It is not surprising for us that they reached the semi-finals and their players have shown their potential. We understand why they reached this level.
“The best way to defend is to attack. We must avoid imposing their way of playing on us. Things can be put in place to prevent the opponents from applying their game, and we hope to do the right thing during the match.
“In competitions like this, there are group stage matches and others in the knockout round, and they differ from each other, such as the semi-finals that are played on small details and the mistakes made can decide the match, and therefore we are preparing ourselves for these details.”
Senegal defender Mamadou Sane who accompanied his coach to the press conference said that, “We will play the semi-final against Madagascar which is considered a good team and we respect them. God willing, we will win.
“We feel excited before the match. My team-mates and I are in this together well and we are working to take another step forward in this edition of the tournament with the help of our coach.”
Senegal face Madagascar at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Baraki at 1900GMT.
Source: Confederation of African Football