Rajevac on the Shortlist

Reports have it that the Federation of Senegalese Football (FSF) is considering the candidature of former Ghana coach, Milovan Rajevac.

The Serbian had taken charge of the Black Stars in 2008 and led them to the 2010 AFCON final and to a quarterfinal at the 2010 World Cup. Rajevac had left the Ghana team due to the Federation’s failure to offer him an improved contract, which led him to the Middle East with Al-Ahli (2010-2011) and the Qatar national team (2011). Disappointing results saw him sacked however and leaving him now jobless. The Serbian had been shortlisted for the then vacant Egyptian national team job in 2011, but was ultimately overlooked in favor of Bob Bradley who was appointed instead.

The main obstacle the FSF might have in appointing the Serbian might be his wage demands, which are reported to be around €1.7m per annum (as much as he had back at Al-Ahli). Although, more reports (from local newspaper "Stades") have it that the sports minister, Abdoulaye Makhtar Diop, is ready to throw in as much as €2m/year as the budget for the new coach. Should these reports be true, then the financial question would in effect no longer be of actuality. The only remaining obstacles would rest with the all-important issues of the language barrier and Rajevac’s ability to deliver on the FSF’s expectations/objectives of a semifinal appearance* at the next AFCON.

* The aforementioned objectives are unconfirmed by the FSF, simply speculations and rumors I am relaying from whispers I have heard

Amara Traore Breaks the Silence

Couple of weeks ago Amara Traoré expressed himself on local Senegalese television channel (2STV) on what had happened at the AFCON 2012. In this short interview, the former national team coach answered a few questions about what he felt was the reason for the disastrous elimination of the Teranga Lions at Bata. Sadly though, very few ‘real’ answers were given but some humorous commentary regardless – one in particular with a very Sam Allardyce-ish twist to it – that are well worth the read.

On the reasons why the team failed at the AFCON

What happened is inexplicable. During the qualification phase, people were wondering about our success and wondered how we had managed to expedite this reconstruction phase, one year only, after the elimination from the 2010 AFCON. I still watch the tapes of our games in Bata, but I cannot find any explanation. We had 18 goal-scoring opportunities per games. In training, even in front of empty nets and with dummies, the forwards were unable to score.

On the Amara Traoré’s lack of experience at the highest level to manage the Senegal national team

I proved in front of everyone that I could lead the national team. I have the results during the qualification phase to prove it. The problem of experience is a false debate. Hervé Renard is African Champion at 38 years old. During the qualification phase I beat Javier Clémente and Robert Nouzaret who have more experience than me. I do not even speak of the Senegal national team, give me Barcelona or Real Madrid, I can manage these teams.

On the style of play or lack thereof

It is a red herring. At the AFCON, there was not a single team that played like Barcelona. During all qualification games, it procured ourselves the highest number of goal-scoring opportunities, except against Cameroon in the first leg, when we were dominated. Otherwise, we dominated our opponents in the possession statistic.

On the lack of spirit & maybe patriotism (in terms of playing for the shirt) of the binationals

The binationals are patriots. They are fully Senegalese and in their own right. They might hold dual citizenship, but in no way should this fact call into question their patriotism. They were always the first to arrive in training camps. The players were really committed, serious, and pious. The President [of Senegal] even said so himself, when he received us at the presidential palace, before we left. They were hungry.

On the team’s future

People should be more patient. We have a great team. Let us not get impatient. It is this failure at the AFCON that will allow us to win tomorrow. With this, the players have learned a lot. This team has room for improvement and if maintained, it can bring us much satisfaction.

Now don’t get me wrong as I have nothing against Amara Traoré and I’m not using this as a stick to beat him with. Something happened in Bata and I place the blame slightly more on the players than the coach, personally. I simply thought his “able to manage Barca or Real” comment a funny one, as I’m sure most readers did. I think it was a wonderful diversionary tactic however – if at all premeditated – as most readers would have focused on that more so than the non-explanation he gave as to what happened in Bata. Personally I would have been more interested in hearing that than Traoré pretty much coming out and saying “I don’t know and cannot explain what happened”. In fact, only about 25% of comments posted at bottom of the article bemoaned this as opposed to the other 75% that denigrated him for making such a ridiculous supposition that he could manage Barcelona or Real Madrid. So for that alone – if indeed by design and not simply by accident – I say kudos to Traoré on a genius piece of communication.

Teranga Lions Extra

This is a piece I wrote for Goalden Times on my views of Senegal's last friendly against South Africa.

Click here to read --> "Teranga Lions' New Roar" deals with impact the U-19s had on the team

Troubled Times for Mangane

After a breakthrough season last year when Kader Mangane was one of the best defenders in Ligue 1, the Rennes center-back has had much more trouble confirming his status this year.


Of course it is not by fault of trying, as the Senegal & Rennes captain has been hampered by a troublesome injury that has seen him sidelined for months now. Indeed, Frederic Antonetti has not been able to count on his captain this season due to a persistent ankle injury. Since before the AFCON 2012, Mangane entered the tournament having just recovered from his ankle injury. It showed in his poor form in Bata when Mangane was well below his best level. The injury dates back from a Europa League tie against Udinese in September.


Since his return from the AFCON 2012, he has not featured in Antonetti's starting XI. He even failed to make the Teranga Lions' last friendly [vs. South Africa in February] due to his ankle troubles. The club is reporting that the Senegalese is due to go under the knife and have surgery on his ankle. This would obviously spell the end of Mangane's season and possibly his future participation in Senegal's World Cup qualification match [vs. Liberia] and AFCON 2013 qualification match [vs. Angola] as well.

Elie Baup Throws his Hat in the Ring

On Saturday, Elie Baup announced [in comments taken by newspaper l’Observateur] that he would be keen on the vacant coaching job at the head of the Senegal national team. The ex-Ligue 1 coach doesn’t hide his interest in the position and officially makes it known: “Yes, I am a candidate, I am postulating for the job as every one else is. I coached a lot of clubs in my life […] and so an international team can be a logical next step in my career and a good project. I am interested in it.”

The Frenchman coached most notably at Bordeaux and at Saint Etienne. His most successful period was in his five-year stint (1998-2003) when he was Ligue 1 champion with les Girondins in 1999. Other than that, Baup counts two other jobs at Toulouse and Nantes but where mid-table mediocrity was the most he could achieve.

On his lack of international experience, the 56-year, old replies: “I have 500 Ligue 1 matches and 80 European cup matches [worth of experience], international football is certainly something new, but the job remains the same."

Search for the New Coach

In accordance with the executive committee of the Federation of Senegalese Football (FSF), president Augustin Senghor has 30 days to find and appoint the replacement of Amara Traoré. In effect the Teranga Lions are currently under the leadership of interim coach, Karim Sega Diouf (currently the U-23 coach), and his assistant Aliou Cisse (former 2002 captain of Teranga Lions). The mission is to find a coach with “experience at the high level”, and thus it is causing some ambivalence within the FSF as dossiers of candidatures pile up on President Senghor’s desk.

The next upcoming match is a World Cup qualifier at home to Liberia on the 1^st of June. Amara Traoré was sacked on the 7^th of February and there are still uncertainties, with only rumors out there, on who might take the head of the Senegal national team. From what I have understood is that many have officially postulated for the job, and indeed many international coaches but not a single Senegalese one has. Only Lamine Dieng (former ASC Diaraf coach & now free) has voiced his interest but didn’t officially postulate his interest under the pretext that he is “sufficiently known by those involved in the selection process”.

On the current list of candidates, the president of the FSF corroborates that they have “a very cosmopolitan list of postulants and of many different nations & languages from Croatians to French or even Germans to English.” He himself confirms that he is “sad & surprised to not have received any official interest in the position from local coaches.” President Senghor adds that they will sit down to determine the correct profile of the next manager is to be, relative to the objectives they are setting out for the national team. He however stresses that the criteria of the language will be an important one as “coaching is firstly about communication.” He tames that comment though, reassuring that it will not prevent anyone from getting the job. The president of the FSF concludes with the explanation: “if we think a good German or Italian coach can better fulfill the objectives & conditions of the job, and that we can procure him a translator – like many national teams and big clubs do it today – then we won’t hesitate to do so. However it is obviously economical, both time-wise & financially, if we appoint a coach who is able to express himself in French.”

The main issue about all this of course is that the same old debate is once again rearing its ugly head: should the head of the national team be given to a foreign manager or a local one? With the sacking of Amara Traoré it seems clear enough that the FSF has picked its side on the issue. It is also reported that should a foreign manager be hired, he will be given Aliou Cisse as assistant coach.

The Kids Are Alright

On September 29^th, Senegal took on South Africa in Durban for an international friendly. After the disastrous AFCON 2012 and the sacking of Amara Traoré, this was seen as a possible new start for the Teranga Lions.

Indeed the 22-men selection from interim coach, Karim Sega Diouf, reflected this new start. In the team selected, 9 players were brought over from the U-23 squad [that will be participating for the Olympic Games] and as many from the AFCON squad were absent.

The game against South Africa ended in a goal-less draw. It was not the most exciting as very few chances were created from either side. South Africa were however the better side, in terms of chance created, but were denied by an inspired Bouna Coundoul who kept the Bafana Bafana at bay. What was so refreshing & surprising about the game was how many of the U-23 players actually played. Out of a the 9 U-23 players brought in, 5 of them made the starting XI and a sixth one came on as a sub. Even more surprising was that they were found along the spine of the team. The central defense was composed of U-23 captain, Abdoulaye Ba, and Papa Gueye. Ba particularly impressed me. He was serene in possession and very graceful on the field. Having been used to watching Souleymane Diawara & Kader Mangane back there, seeing a player that was so silky smooth made an immediate impression. He read the game well & came up with some critical interventions. His positioning was very good too I thought, as he very rarely had to lunge to win the ball back. In midfield, Idrissa Gueye played alongside Ricardo Faty and both showed lots of character whilst Moussa Konate played as a right forward.

On technical level, the new recruits showed that they had what it took to stake a claim in the team. However it is on the mentality they showed that I was particularly impressed. Playing away against a much more experienced side and in the difficult context we all know it to be [with the AFCON 2012 failure] it was not evident for the U-23 players to succeed. Yes they were not tainted by what had happened in Bata but there existed a conscientiousness within them to play in order to make the Senegalese fans proud [of the team] once again. On that alone I can only congratulate the new kids who have thoroughly impressed me and even if the game ended in a draw, well I can honestly say that it was a victory as far as I'm concerned.