Aliou Cisse has stepped down as head coach of Senegal after leading the Teranga Lions for nine and a half years.
At 48, Cisse leaves behind a legacy, having guided Senegal to their first-ever continental triumph by winning the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Despite his contract expiring in August, he remained in charge for Senegal’s two 2025 AFCON qualifiers last month, where they drew 1-1 with Burkina Faso and secured a 1-0 victory over Burundi.
While the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) was keen to extend Cisse’s contract, the sports ministry, under the new government led by Bassirou Diomaye Faye, opted to bring his tenure to a close, just nine days before the next round of qualifiers. The decision comes as a surprise, especially since Cisse had already scheduled a press conference to announce his squad for the upcoming double-header against Malawi.
Cisse, a former player with 35 caps for Senegal, took charge of the national team in March 2015 and helped elevate them to the top-ranked football side in Africa for over four years. Under his leadership, Senegal claimed the 2021 AFCON title after a thrilling penalty shootout win against Egypt, following a second-place finish in the 2019 edition. However, Senegal’s defence of their AFCON title earlier this year ended in disappointment, as they were eliminated in the last 16 by hosts and eventual champions Ivory Coast after a penalty shootout.