After securing a 3-1 victory against Cameroon in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal’s head coach, Aliou Cisse, was swiftly admitted to a hospital in Ivory Coast, where he will spend the night. The match at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium was followed by Cisse experiencing stomach discomfort, prompting his admission to Saint Joseph Moscati Catholic Hospital in Yamoussoukro.
Despite the health scare, reports indicate that the 47-year-old coach is on a positive path to recovery. However, he will be absent from the team’s training session the following day. Providing updates on Cisse’s health, El Hadji Diouf, a former international teammate, reassured that Cisse is doing well. Diouf acknowledged the stress that football can bring, attributing physical symptoms like stomach aches to the pressures of the sport. He confirmed Cisse’s positive recovery after speaking with him over the phone.
This incident raises concerns within the Senegalese camp, given Cisse’s pivotal role as the team’s coach since 2015. He successfully led the Teranga Lions to victory in the delayed 2021 AFCON tournament in Cameroon and guided them to the Round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
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With Senegal already qualifying for the knockout stage of AFCON 2023 through victories in their opening matches, the hope is for Cisse’s swift return for their final Group C game against Guinea. A draw in this match would secure the top spot in their group. This situation echoes the 2022 World Cup, where Cisse faced illness but managed to recover in time for a crucial game.