When Senegal and Algeria square off in the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) championship game on Saturday, Senegal coach Pape Thiaw is confident his team will rise to the occasion.
Only one year after their nation won the AFCON championship, the Teranga Lions will play the Desert Foxes in a gripping match at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers in an attempt to complete an amazing continental double.
“I have the deep conviction that we will do everything to win this match. The kids are very motivated. The best team will win this CHAN. I tell you, right in the eyes, we will not let this trophy escape us,” the 41-year-old said.
“We know the stadium will be against us. It is normal. Danger can come from any of them. They returned from Oran with confidence after a 5-0 win against Niger,” he added.
With five goals, Aymen Mahious of Algeria is the competition’s top scorer and has given many rivals a lot to worry about.
Thiaw contends that there won’t be a special strategy designed to deal with the threat provided by the USM Alger player, regardless of the risk the attacker poses to all teams.
“No! He is a great player, I wish him a great career and lots of goals… but not tomorrow, against us (laughs),”
After winning the AFCON in Cameroon last year, Senegal is the current champion of Africa. According to Balde, the squad wants to replicate players from the main senior national team.
“Our senior brothers were crowned on February 6 in Cameroon. On February 4, we have the opportunity to emulate them. That’s all we want, Inchallah! To write our names in the history of football and make this week special for our people.”