Congarts to Senegal
Mendy
Mendy
Happy for Cisse. Two straight AFCONs where local managers win the trophy. Stop hiring Europeans
Apparently Cisse has a national team selection policy don't know if it is accurate or not but dude only selects guys who play (1) in Europe (2) who are in top divisions in Insert Major European Country (EPL, Ligue 1, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A etc). So If you are a guy playing in China US Middle East or any other place that is not a respectable football league, he will not select you in the national side.
I wouldn't be surprised if that's the case, I think Clarence Seedorf wanted to implement a similar policy at Cameroon when he managed their national team last go around. Kinda makes sense since Senegal doesn't really have any local clubs they can recruit from even for a GK.
Usually other African nations will have at least one or two players that play for a local club, usually the GK.
I think he is smart enough to recognize that abroad instills a different level of competition and that is real. Our leagues on the continent cannot compete.
However this international vs local argument is prevalent argument in African countries especially Francophone ones. Ppl point out to those North African countries who have won multiple afcons like Egypt pre Salah. How many Egyptian players who are thriving in big teams in European leagues are thriving outside of Salah.
Those same argument proponents point to the star studded Ivory Coast teams of the past who did not win anything for the longest.
Great debate to have.
Elitist but effectiveApparently Cisse has a national team selection policy don't know if it is accurate or not but dude only selects guys who play (1) in Europe (2) who are in top divisions in Insert Major European Country (EPL, Ligue 1, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A etc). So If you are a guy playing in China US Middle East or any other place that is not a respectable football league, he will not select you in the national side.
With Egypt, their 3-peat run featured a team mostly of Al-Ahly, Zamalek and Ismaily players. Their squads were well organized and had high team chemistry, unlike other African nations that tended to be a smattering of players in different leagues, teams, and different philosophies of play.
I can't say too much for other N. African nations (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia) but in Egypt, their domestic league is very well supported and the Egyptian economy is good enough that the top players may not feel the need to go overseas and seek greener pastures.