WAFCON 2026: Mame Moussa Cisse resigns following Senegal’s elimination

The Senegalese manager believes it is time to hand over the reins in order to give the Lionesses a new lease of life.

Senegal’s women’s national team is set to turn an important page. Having been in the role for nearly 10 years, head coach Mame Moussa Cisse is bringing his tenure with the Lionesses to an end following Senegal’s elimination at the group stage of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The announcement was made following the final group match against Morocco (0–0) on Monday 3 August.

“We didn’t achieve our goal. This third consecutive AFCON was meant to be my last. It’s time to step aside and let others take on the challenge of breaking through this glass ceiling.

Today, we have a good team and we’re on a positive run. Perhaps another coach, with a different vision and a different set of experiences, will be able to lead this team towards the goals we have set ourselves.

I’ve been here for 10 years. It’s time to hand over the reins to someone else, to try new approaches. I’ve given everything I had, but apparently, it’s not enough. ”

This departure brings to an end a ten-year spell with the women’s national team. Mame Moussa Cisse was assistant manager of the Senegalese women’s team from 2013 to 2015, then head coach from 2015 to 2017 and from 2019 to 2026.