Aliou Cisse insists Senegal will not underestimate Ivory Coast in AFCON last 16

Aliou Cisse refused to be drawn on whether he is managing the best Senegal team in history, insisting the Africa Cup of Nations holders will be brought back down to earth if they lose to Ivory Coast in the last 16 on Monday.

Senegal lifted the trophy for the first time in 2021 under the stewardship of Cisse and topped Group C this time around with three wins from as many matches.

They face Ivory Coast for a place in the quarter-finals, with the hosts limping through to the knockout rounds as one of the best third-placed teams.

Cisse has an experienced squad of players and boasts the likes of Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson, Pape Matar Sarr of Tottenham and captain Kalidou Koulibaly.

Asked if he was overseeing the best Senegal side of all time, Cisse replied: “It’s hard to say.

“I don’t like talking about myself. Others can talk about us and what we are doing.

“Now is not the time to take stock because we are in the middle of competition. What matters to us is tomorrow’s match because, if unfortunately it goes badly, we will come back to earth again.”

Cisse, though, was happier to discuss how well his team have taken to their defence of the trophy.

“Our team is going through a good period after three matches, where we achieved good results in the group stage, and I am satisfied with it,” he added.

“We will play a very difficult match. If we win, we will continue the adventure, and if we lose, we will return home.

“We qualified with nine points and the opponent with three points, this does not matter. Now a new competition has begun. Ivory Coast remains a major team in Africa, they have good players.

“The defeat in their last two matches remain just an accident, they will show another performance in front of their fans.”