Aliou Cisse has been dismissed as head coach of Senegal after nearly a decade at the helm of the Teranga Lions.
The 48-year-old, who led Senegal to their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 2022, leaves just nine days before their next round of 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
Cisse’s contract expired in August, but he continued to oversee the team during their recent qualifiers, including a 1-1 draw with Burkina Faso and a 1-0 win over Burundi. While the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) intended to renew his contract, the decision to part ways was made by the sports ministry under the new government led by Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
“The FSF thanks Aliou Cisse for his outstanding contributions and results during his time with various national teams and wishes him success in his future endeavors,” the federation said in a statement.
The decision surprised many, given Cisse’s scheduled press conference to announce the squad for the upcoming qualifiers against Malawi. Tensions between the FSF and the government, which covers the coach’s salary, have been present in the past, but the abruptness of this move was unexpected.
Cisse took charge of Senegal in March 2015 and led the team to significant achievements, including an AFCON victory and two World Cup appearances in 2018 and 2022. He also established the Teranga Lions as Africa’s top-ranked team for over four years. However, Senegal’s early exit from this year’s AFCON and falling FIFA rankings contributed to the decision to replace him.
The FSF confirmed that Khady Diene Gaye, Senegal’s Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture, declined a one-year extension for Cisse, citing unmet objectives, such as failing to reach the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals and regressing in the global rankings.
Cisse’s journey from captain of Senegal’s golden generation in 2002 to AFCON-winning coach has been marked by triumph and personal tragedy. He famously missed the decisive penalty in the 2002 AFCON final and lost 11 family members in the Joola ferry disaster that same year. Reflecting on the tragedy, Cisse shared how he narrowly escaped being on the ill-fated ship.
Starting his coaching career in 2011 with Senegal’s Under-23 team, Cisse took over the senior side in 2015, succeeding Alain Giresse. Despite his departure, Cisse’s legacy as a key figure in Senegalese football will remain.
