Moussa Cissé : Mali is favorite but we have assets to put forward

Senegal's Lionesses will face the Mali's Eagles on Wednesday in the first leg of the last qualifying round for the TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2022.

Senegal's coach Mame Moussa Cissé wants to "put all the assets on his side to win widely if possible and get closer" to the next final phase.

Speaking to CAFOnline.com, the Senegalese technician projects his team and presents the double-header.

CAFOnline.com: In what state of mind are you preparing for this match against Mali?

Mame Moussa Cissé: These will be extremely complicated matches against a great team from Mali, semi-finalists of the previous edition of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations. And I tell you sincerely that the Malian team will be the favorites of this double confrontation but we have trumps in our sleeve to seek the qualification. Although it has changed a lot from February to now, the Malian team has kept the fundamentals. They have physical, athletic and technical quality in particular up front and it is up to us to face up and find solutions. After 10 years of following the Africa Cup of Nations at home, we want to be present at the next party in Morocco and that means a good performance in this first leg, on Wednesday at the Lat Dior stadium in Thiès.

You mentioned Mali and what about your group?

We started the camp on January 10 with a group exclusively made up of local players. Since this week, we have been reinforced by four foreign-based players (Safiétou Sagna, Nguennar Ndiaye and Meta Camara) from Bourges and Astou Ngom from Cherbourg. Two internationals will join us tonight (Sunday), Mama Diop and Ndeye Awa Diakhaté. It's good to be able to count on everyone. Because each of the players will be important for this first leg where we have to achieve the perfect score, that is to say scoring without conceding. We know it will be difficult for the second leg, but we also know that we have to take care of our approach. In the meantime, we have seen that the players are very happy to meet again after the two victories against Liberia (2-1 and 6-0) in the first round. But they know that the real happiness is in the qualification which must validate the progress made recently with the title of zonal champion in February 2021 in Sierra Leone.

The Lions have just been crowned African champions, what impact can this title have on your team?

The girls know that they will be expected and we want to surf on this positive dynamic of national football. The entire Senegalese people are happy to finally see national football coronated. However, the girls know that they have to write their own story. The women's team has been chasing a qualification in the final phase since 2012. It's been exactly 10 years, it's enough to start afresh and integrate the cream of continental football among the ladies. Progress has been made and we are working to ensure that everything is validated during this double confrontation against Mali. It will be very difficult but we are going to take our chances.