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LAGOS. — TWENTY years ago, Alou Cisse played himself into the bad books of many Senegalese football fans, when he lost his penalty kick to hand the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon the African Cup of Nations title.
The match ended 3-2 in favour of the Cameroonians in the shoot-out after a goalless draw in 90 minutes and extra-time.
As customary with defeats, Cisse, who was the team captain at that time, wept openly at Stade du 26 Mars in Bamako, Mali. He ‘’had murdered sleep,’’ and was restless throughout the night, while the Cameroonians celebrated.
That tournament in Mali marked the best ever result in Senegalese football history until they finished as runners-up once again three years ago in Egypt, where the Lions of Teranga lost 0-1 to Algeria. However, many Senegalese fans saw Cisse as the man who stopped them from sipping from the golden cup.
From sadness to joy, Cisse was all smiles on Sunday night at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, as he ran around the arena, waving to the crowd with his Senegalese flag flying high.
From being a villain at Mali 2002, Cisse has risen to become one of the greatest football heroes in 2022. The Lions of Teranga have finally won their first AFCON title.
At the end of their semi-final tie against Stallions of Burkina Faso last Wednesday, Cisse said he was not in a hurry to predict whether or not his team would lift the trophy.
“This could be our year to win the trophy for the government and people of Senegal, but we still have one major hurdle to cross,” the dark complexioned Cisse told The Guardian as he adjusted his black coloured nose mask. As at when Senegal secured their final ticket after beating the Burkinabes, the build up to the game between the Pharaohs of Egypt and hosts, Indomitable Lions, was generating tension in every nook and cranny of Cameroon.
“I don’t know yet if we will be facing Cameroon or Egypt, but all I can say is that we are fully prepared to face any opposition that comes our way in the final. This is a different Teranga Lions squad and I pray and hope we get it right this time.”
For years, the Lions of Teranga of Senegal had remained under the shadow of much more successful West African giants, including the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire and the Black Stars of Ghana. That was the story of Senegal for the majority of the 20th century. — The Guardian
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