Saturday 27/December/2025 – 10:40 PM
Pape Thiaw, the coach of the Senegal national team, expressed his satisfaction after his team played against its counterpart, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the match that was played between the two teams in the group stage matches of the championship. African Cup of Nations 2025 Morocco.
The match between Senegal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo ended in a 1-1 draw, as part of the second round of the group stage of the 2025 African Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Statements of the Senegal coach
Pape Thiaw said during the press conference after the end of the match: I think we controlled the match very well. Unfortunately, the result is a bit disappointing, because we were able to settle the match in the first half. What I appreciate is the fighting spirit, but next time we have to settle the result early.
The Senegal coach continued: Unfortunately, we conceded a goal, but my players gave a great reaction to get back into the match. We were determined to qualify tonight, and we did our best to score the second goal. Unfortunately, we were not lucky, but we will try to make amends in the next match.
He confirmed: Ibrahim Mbaye performed well, as did Lamine. Habib remained on the bench, but the most important thing for us is the team. Every match has its goal. We will now prepare for the next match against Benin.
He stated: In our group, integration is very easy. We have players like Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, Gana Gueye, and Edouard Mendy who mentor the younger players. Ibrahim is a hardworking, ambitious and competitive young man who came to challenge the hierarchy.
He added: I prefer to see my team create opportunities, but as we always say, you must score to win the match. We came out of this match with a point, whereas if we had been more effective in the first half, we could have come out with a 2-0 lead at least.
He revealed: I do not think that inefficiency is related to the selection of players. I prefer players who create opportunities for themselves. Of course, they have to be more accurate in front of goal, and they realize that. Scoring benefits the team, but it is the most difficult thing in football, and that is also why strikers generally receive higher salaries. In a tournament like the African Cup of Nations, you must know how to score, especially against clustered defences.
He stressed: In my opinion, the best player in the history of Senegalese football is Sadio Mane. He has made a great contribution to this team. He is an exceptional player and a real asset to us. He is always in the service of the team, and he is an example to follow. We must appreciate him now, and not wait until he retires. He is loved all over the world, and always shows desire and determination. As a coach, it is a great honor to have Sadio Mane on my team.
He continued: Changes always depend on the context. Just reaching the 55th minute does not necessarily mean they need to be made. Sometimes it is necessary to wait. The team was in a good position, and that was a deliberate choice. The adjustments depend on the course of the match, not on the timing. After Ismaila left, his replacement entered well. In any case, it is a team effort. There are no fixed positions.
He expressed: I do not feel any regrets. This match is over, and I am now focusing on the next match against Benin, with the goal of winning it. We could have performed better, but the match has become a thing of the past. Now we have to focus on the next match.
He continued: I am satisfied with the performance. We played a good match today. However, the result is disappointing because Senegal deserved the full three points. We know why we conceded that goal and we will work to improve it. Even if we win, there will still be aspects that need development. In this tournament, you have to advance step by step and constantly improve the smallest details.
The Senegal coach concluded: I am not saying that the players did not adhere to the instructions. Certainly, we made some mistakes and lacked effectiveness. We tried to work on that, and almost all of the journalists’ questions revolved around this point. We will work hard to be more effective in the next match.
