Senegal have relieved Aliou Cisse of his duties as manager of the Teranga Lions following discontent and unrest between fans and the Football Association.
Cisse was appointed as head coach of the Senegal senior national team in 2015, after previously taking the stead on a temporal basis in 2012.
Aliou Cisse has risen through the ranks in Senegal, previously serving as assistant manager for the U-23 team.
In 2022, the 48-year gaffer etched his name in Senegal’s football history after he led the team to clinch its first-ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) crown at the 2021 continental showpiece.
Senegal, who had lost an AFCON final two years prior under Cisse to Algeria, held their nerves as they were crowned champions of the continent in a thrilling 4-2 penalty shootout victory against Egypt.
Cisse’s unending exploits saw him lead Senegal at the 2022 World Cup, bowing out in the last 16 stage after losing to England.
The 2022 World Cup knockout stage exit was an improvement on the 2018 outing, where Senegal exited in the first stage of the tournament.
The former Senegal player, who captained his country to the 2002 AFCON final, was acknowledged by CAF for his outstanding exploits with the Teranga Lions – walking away as the 2022 CAF Coach of the Year.
However, a disenchantment from the fans due to the team’s recent performances, which includes bowing out of the 2023 AFCON earlier in the year against Ivory Coast, has led to the axe of the coach.
Senegal have been made to labour for results in their past four competitive outings, with the team not playing at their fluid best, recording 1-0 narrow wins against Burundi and Mauritania in their AFCON and World Cup qualifiers respectively.
Senegal also dropped points at home to Burkina Faso, leaving them level on points with the Burkinabes in their AFCON qualifying group.
Aliou Cisse walks away with his head held high after overseeing 64 wins, 22 draws and 13 losses, in 99 games for the West African side.
Senegal are expected to begin a new chapter without Cisse when they take on Malawi in their 2025 AFCON qualifier against Malawi on October 11, 2024.