Aliou Cisse Resigns as Head Coach of Senegal's National Football Team

 

Aliou Cisse has announced his resignation as the head coach of Senegal's national football team, the Teranga Lions, after nine and a half years in the role. The 48-year-old coach made significant contributions during his tenure, most notably leading Senegal to its first Africa Cup of Nations title in 2021.

Cisse's previous contract ended in August, but he remained at the helm for Senegal’s two qualifying matches for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) last month, which included a 1-1 draw against Burkina Faso and a 1-0 win over Burundi.

While the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) had intended to renew Cisse's contract, the new sports ministry under Bassirou Diomaye Faye opted to terminate his position just nine days before the next round of qualifiers. This decision came as a surprise, especially since Cisse had scheduled a press conference for Friday to announce his squad for the upcoming matches against Malawi.

Cisse, who earned 35 caps as a player for Senegal, took over as head coach in March 2015. Under his leadership, Senegal became the top-ranked team in Africa for over four years. The highlight of his coaching career was winning the AFCON title in Cameroon, following a runner-up finish in 2019. However, the team’s title defense earlier this year ended in disappointment, as they were eliminated in the last 16 by the eventual champions, Ivory Coast, after a penalty shootout.