By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has officially parted ways with former Birmingham City, Portsmouth midfielder and head coach Aliou Cissé after nine years.
The FSF said on Wednesday that Cisse’s failure to win the 2023 edition of AFCON alongside their exit from the 2022 World Cup at the round-of-16 stage — losing 3-0 to England — were among the reasons for his exit.
The statement added that Cisse’s departure was also related to the “regression of our national team in the FIFA rankings and the risk of disaffection between our national team and the Senegalese people in general.”
Cisse, 48, was appointed as Senegal’s head coach in March 2015 after serving as the U-23 coach and assistant to a caretaker manager.
He enjoyed remarkable success with the Teranga Lions, leading them to the Africa Cup of Nations final in 2019 and securing their first-ever AFCON title in 2022.
Cisse leaves Senegal with a record of 70 wins, 13 losses, and 24 draws in 99 matches. He faced South Africa’s Bafana Bafana three times, winning two and losing one.