Cisse: Details make the difference in finals

Hours before the 2019 Total Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Algeria, both sides’ managers spoke to press.
Here’s what Senegal coach Aliou Cisse and midfielder Krepin Diatta said

Aliou Cisse (Coach, Senegal)

I’m happy to be in the final, this is the work of five full years and our target from the first day was to be in the final. In football there’s no domestic or foreign coach, there were some good foreign coaches in Africa too. The difference is that me and Belmadi were given the chance by our federations.

17 years is a very long time since we were last in the final, most of my players were very young then. We suffered a lot since then and this generation now wants to achieve more. The game is going to be tough but we want to make our people happy.

It’s football and the defeat against Algeria in the group stage is past now. We respect them much but we have to say our word loud. It’s the final so it’s complicated, but simply we just want to win.

Final is about small details. There’s stress and pressure, and these details make the difference. But in the end African football is the winner.

Kalidou Koulibaly is one of the best defenders in the world. I convinced him of representing Senegal and I’m sad he won’t be available for the final because he’s a very important player. His absence is a regret, but we will find the replacement and tomorrow we play for him.

Sadio Mané is the champion of Europe is not thinking of the individual trophies, he is just focusing on making his country proud.

Many great players miss penalties. We are training on it and if they were to be needed in the final, we will be ready.
Our philosophy is to have every game at a time. The defeat to Algeria in the group stage made us come back stronger. Our players are very good and we will be ready. There’s no big difference between both teams.

We are not under pressure, but we wake up every day happy that we are here and that we are lucky to work with passion. We represent our country, our supporters and our flag. That is a very big motive for us. We always play to win.

Senegal always had great talents, but I think generation is the best. We played in the World Cup after a long time of absence, and we are in the AFCON final too. What changed is the mental strength of our players that helps them in games of this magnitude.

Krepin Diatta (Midfielder, Senegal)

My teammates in the youth teams tell me I’m their representative in this team. I’m proud to play for my country and I hope to make them proud too.

We are motivated to play the final. We made mistakes when we played against Algeria in the group stage but we learnt the lesson and now we just want to win this match.

I’m here because of some hard work with my team. All what’s in my head is to do our best to win.