By Amaechi Agbo

The Federation of Senegalese Football (FSF) has extended the contract of the head coach of the Teranga Lions, Aliou Cisse for another two years.

Cisse took over in 2015 and has led Senegal to back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations finals, winning the 2021 edition in February this year.

The triumph in Cameroon was the first time ever the West African nation is winning the continental crown.

He also qualified Senegal for back-to-back FIFA World Cups in 2018 and 2022 and will remain in charge until 2024.

Cisse is best known for being the first Senegal captain to reach the Africa Cup of Nations final in 2002 and the first Senegal manager to win the tournament in 2022 after reaching the final in 2019

The 46-year-old was promoted from the U-23 national team to the senior team in March 2015 as head coach. He qualified the country for the 2018 FIFA World Cup on 10 November 2017, but they were knocked out in the group stage of the tournament after becoming the first team in FIFA World Cup history to be eliminated due to fair play tiebreaker rules.

Cisse coached Senegal at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, helping the country to its first ever final since the 2002, a tournament which Cissé himself also participated when he was the team’s captain.

However, his Senegal was defeated 1–0 in the final by Algeria, after losing by the same score in the group stage, and missed out on its first ever African trophy.

In February 2019 Senegal’s Football Federation (FSF) extended Cissé and his staff’s contracts until August 2021.

On 6 February 2022, Cissé led Senegal to victory at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. In the final they beat Egypt 4-2 on penalties to clinch their first title, thus redeemed himself after two previous final defeats.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will begin on Sunday, November 20 through December 18.