African Debate: Senegal On Quest For New Glory

Senegal’s national team has lost the honours and acclamations it reaped from the 2002 World Cup where the Lions downed the then defending champions France in their opener, and fantastically edged towards the quarterfinals to share the continental record with Cameroon.

But like a clay pot toppled from a treetop, the Medina Boys crashed and scattered into oblivion immediately after their worthwhile World Cup campaign, causing a whole nation, till date, an unexampled strain and stress trying to gather the pieces to form a new usable whole.

Many in the West African nation feel the days of El Hadji Diouf, Khalilou Fadiga, Papa Bouba Diop, Henri Camara, Tony Silva, etc, are gone for good, requiring a decade to re-bake another of such an awesome bunch. But the football federation (FSF), Sports Ministry and new indigenous coach Amary Traoré still believe in miracles or at least hard work, to redesign a fresh squad capable of delivering some amount of joy to desperate local fans.

Traoré’s strategy largely depends on the use of players who are transparently dedicated to the national team and not relying on stars who would jilt when one is most in need of them, like a fly girl switching off her phone minutes before an important date.

The inclusion of local players like Dieylani A.K. Fall, Ablaye Seck, Khadim Ndiaye and Mamadou Bâ underscores the nationalist intentions of the Lions’ boss, even when critics say there are a number of European-based pros he could have fished.

Playing coastal neighbours Cape Verde early this month in an international friendly gave Traoré the opportunity to appraise his new squad as well as his new strategy. The 1-0 win pulled kudos from some quarters, however modest, the coach told reporters in Dakar that, “The most important thing is the oneness spirit currently reigning in the team.” This he hopes to continue hence the exact re-enlisting of the squad heading for Lubumbashi to play DR Congo in the qualifiers of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations on 5 September.

But the route towards Gabon/Equatorial Guinea 2012 might get rough for Senegal considering their two main opponents in Group E – Cameroon and DR Congo, both of whom are striving to swim ashore after drowning in recent campaigns. The fourth member, Mauritius will probably be the sacrificial ram for the three stronger sides, but a win there would not be enough to sail through; one out of the three strong contenders needs to fall for two to rise.

Cameroon don’t want to hear that when they are sure of their strength. DR Congo have been multiplying local and international efforts to qualify for an AFCON this time around after being absent from the two previous editions. Senegal are grabbing this as a last chance to re-launch their football. So who will drop then?

Newly transferred Mamadou Niang, Blackburn’s Mame Birame Diouf, Fryburg’s Papis Demba Cissé and Montpellier’s Souleymane Camara are among the current crop capable of opening a passage for the Lions of Teranga towards the finals of the 2012 AFCON. We will have to wait and see!

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