Senegal manager Pape Thiaw has revealed he always believed in his team following their triumph at the 2022 African Nations Championship in Algeria.
The Teranga Lions defeated hosts Algeria 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw in regulation and extra time to win their first-ever CHAN title, thereby becoming the first team from West Africa to achieve such a feat.
They also became the first team to win all three CAF continental titles for senior national teams: Africa Cup of Nations, CHAN and Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations.
Thiaw – who turned 42 on Sunday and won the manager of the tournament award, said winning the tournament was the best birthday present for him.
— 🏆🇸🇳 #TotalEnergiesAFCON title holders.
— 🏆🇸🇳 #TotalEnergiesCHAN title holders.
— 🏆🇸🇳 #BSAFCON title holders.Senegal are the 1st nation to win all 3 major CAF continental titles! 🔥
They made it more special by being the reigning champions for all of them at the same time. pic.twitter.com/gyuvoRbyKD
— MARHABA (@CAF_Online) February 5, 2023
“We have a young team that knows how to run matches,” he said on the CAF website.
“Its strength is in teamwork and when we played against Algeria that did not concede any goal, we were ready to suffer in order to make our country happy. I will not get a better gift for my birthday.
“I did not doubt that we would not win. Not even for a single moment and I remained calm. Our players received messages of encouragement from our people and the Senegalese authorities.
“These young men wanted to raise the level of football. We are a country that exports its players abroad in abundance, and that is why we do not keep players with our local team.”
🇸🇳 SENEGAL’S 2002 GOLDEN TEAM. The gift that keeps on giving.
🏆 1st ever #TotalEnergiesAFCON title for Senegal won under the management of Aliou Cissé.
🏆 1st ever #TotalEnergiesCHAN title for Senegal won under the management of Papa Thiaw pic.twitter.com/zw8fpnQ7Ps
— MARHABA (@CAF_Online) February 5, 2023
Thiaw is the second Senegalese manager to win a continental title for the national team after his former teammate Aliou Cisse did so at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, also the first time the country was winning that tournament after runners-up finishes in 2002 – which Thiaw and Cisse were part of – and 2019.
