Senegal are confident coach Aliou Cisse will be in the dugout for Sunday night's clash with England - after he was sidelined by illness.
Cisse was unable to oversee Senegal training for the past couple of days, after complaining of feeling unwell and suffering from a fever. Assistant coach Regis Bogaert took over media duties before the England game, with Cisse confined to Senegal’s team hotel.
Despite the disruption to their preparations for the last 16 showdown, Senegal believe Cisse will recover in time to take charge. Bogaert said: “He’s been sick for a couple of days now and he let us take charge of training on Saturday with his instructions.
“Hopefully tomorrow he'll be able to be on the bench, but we are sure that at 10pm [local time] he will be there with the team, for sure. He had a temperature, so we have to be careful.”
Cisse’s presence on the touchline is vital if Senegal are to have any chance of causing the latest upset in Qatar by knocking out England.
The 46-year-old, captain of the Senegal side that beat World Cup holders France in the opening game of the 2002 tournament, is a legend in his homeland and an inspirational figure to his players.
Cisse, coach since 2015, inspired Senegal to a first African Cup of Nations success this year, something that eluded the famed 2002 side. “The coach has many qualities, one which is to convey a sense of confidence to his players,” said Bogaert.
“When he talks to them, he uses data, as well as his own experiences. He was part of that great team in 2002 and the team really trusts him because of that.
“Also, he has players who are progressing because they are playing at top clubs. He says the more you play at top clubs, the more you will become mature, top-quality players, and that’s what we’re seeing.
“I know him very well. I knew him as a player and now I’ve worked for 11 years now as his assistant. He has tremendous energy. He knows where he wants to go and he gives everything.
“He always tells you directly what’s on his mind. He’s frank and honest, and players appreciate that. If he likes what they’re doing he tells them and if he doesn’t like it, he tells them as well.”
Bogaert is adamant Senegal can pull off another major shock by beating England to continue the giant killings the tournament has witnessed in Qatar.
“We’ve seen Cameroon beat Brazil and Tunisia beat France, so we know Senegal can beat England,” said Bogaert. “Four years ago we were knocked out on yellow cards, so we weren’t far away.
“Since then, the team has grown. We’re developing and we’re more mature at international level. “Beating a team like England would send a strong message of the progress we have made.”
