Senegal head coach Aliou Cissé has said he will discuss his future with the FA following the Teranga Lions’ shock elimination from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations at the hands of Cote d'Ivoire.
The defending champions were leading the game at Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro on Monday night through a fourth minute goal from Habib Diallo until Franck Yannick Kessie restored parity in the 86th minute to force the game into extra time, then into penalty shootouts.
The Elephants qualified for the quarterfinals after beating Cissé’s Senegal 5-4 on penalties.
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Speaking to the press in a post-match interview, Cissé declined to comment on his future but he pointed out that he will have a meeting with the administration of the Senegalese Football Federation, then he will know his fate with the national team.
"We will see what the future has in store for us. First, I want to digest this defeat because everyone is disappointed," he said to the press after the game," he said.
"There will surely be discussions with the federation, but my future doesn’t matter at the moment."
Cissé further stressed that he is disappointed with the result as it is not what they were looking for.
"I am disappointed with the result for my players, for our people because we came to win this CAN. There were a lot of game facts that I won't go into."
"It is too bad we lost track after opening the score. But in victory as in defeat, you have to remain dignified, and I am proud of my players,” he added.
Senegal became the latest former champions to be dumped out of the AFCON 2023 after Ghana, Cameroon, Tunisia, Algeria, Zambia and Egypt.