Senegal may have struggled to qualify for the African Nations Cup but their coach Abdoulaye Sarr said on Sunday they feared nobody even with an imposing semifinal on Tuesday against hosts Egypt.
Sarr admitted playing the four-time winners would be a tough experience but the manner in which the 2002 finalists were improving gave him hope.
”We got to the quarterfinals having struggled to qualify,” said Sarr, who is in charge of his first African Nations Cup.
”Now we are not considered favourites, but, we fear nobody.”
Senegal struggled to qualify for the last eight, losing two of their matches and only going through on marginally better goal difference before a much improved performance saw them beat previously unbeaten Guinea 3-2 in the quarter-finals.
”The Teranga Lions [Senegal] are playing the hosts in their back garden,” said the coach.
”We have no pressure on us, we are all aware we are playing a Cup tie. That is to say if we don’t win, we lose everything.
”Egypt are improving steadily, are confident and will have the little matter of 74 000 people supporting them in an incredible atmosphere.
”We are going to have to be mentally very strong for 90 minutes and perhaps longer [if the match goes to extra-time], but, we are old stagers at high level competitions and my boys are ready for anything,” said Sarr. – Sapa-AFP