Aliou Cissé, Pape Thiaw and the numbers of destiny with the Senegal national team !

Senegal is set to face Morocco this Sunday, 18 January, in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations. It is a final with strong symbolic significance for the Senegalese team.

Senegal was crowned champion for the first time at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. It was Aliou Cissé, a former national team player who became coach of his country's team, who led the Lions of Teranga to this historic victory.

On the eve of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, which Senegal is playing in, a symbolic fact has resurfaced. Before hanging up his boots, Aliou Cissé wore the number 6 jersey for the Senegalese national team at the 2002 World Cup. Years later, he won the Africa Cup of Nations on 6 February 2022 as head coach. What a coincidence with the number 6 !

Similarly, during the 2002 World Cup, Pape Thiaw, Senegal's current head coach, wore the number 18 jersey for the national team. And under his leadership, Senegal will play in the AFCON final on 18 January 2026. Another coincidence with a number, but this time the number 18. Will history repeat itself for Senegal ?