Senegal coach Diallo not burdened by title defence pressure

Defending champions Senegal will begin the defence of their TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) title with a blockbuster Group D encounter against Nigeria on Tuesday, 05 August, at the Amani Stadium.

The match promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the group stage as two continental powerhouses clash in what could shape the trajectory of the group. Senegal, the reigning champions, arrive in East Africa with the confidence of continental success still fresh in their minds after lifting the trophy in Algeria in 2022.

But head coach Souleymane Diallo insists that his team is not burdened by the pressure of defending the title. Instead, he believes the responsibility comes with a renewed sense of purpose.

"Thanks for reminding me of our success in Algeria," Diallo said when asked about the weight of expectation. "The players are cautious of their mission and our performance last time out only serves as a source of motivation for us. Entering this competition as defending champions doesn't add any pressure on us as many may think. We won the previous trophy and it's in our cabinet. We rather feel we have been given a responsibility and we are ready to face the realities of our status."

The tactician added that his squad is approaching the tournament with humility and respect for their opponents.

"We are not here to defend the trophy in our keeping, we came to try to win another trophy, but for that we have to set the first objective which is qualifying from the group. These days, African football doesn't provide for teams to be classed as favourites. That is why we respect all the teams in our group. Sudan, Congo or Nigeria all have players that have earned the right to be in this competition. They are all good and respected by us."

Senegal will lean on the experience and hunger within their camp. For players like El Hadj Malick, representing the nation is about more than just football, it’s about delivering on the hopes of the people back home.

"We are determined, we know that Senegalese back at home expect a lot from us," the midfielder stated.

"So we are ready to continue the good run that we have set. We have had good preparation and we are counting on the support of our people to go all the way. We face Nigeria tomorrow, after which we will switch our attention to the next matches."

The West African giants will be eager to put their stamp on Group D early on and stake their claim for a knockout spot.

With Congo and Sudan completing the group, this match could go a long way in determining who takes the driver’s seat in the race for quarter-final qualification