Pape Thiaw : « Ce n’est pas une guerre, c’est un match de football »
On the eve of a highly anticipated match against Mali, coach Pape Thiaw emphasized that football is about sport, not conflict, while responding to the Malian coach.
“For me, it’s a football match, not a war. Mali and Senegal can’t be at war because of a match,” he stated. “We all have family and friendly ties on both sides. So there’s no question of talking about war here. We remain focused on the game and what we can do on the pitch.”
The coach also spoke about his personal situation, which illustrates his point of view: "If I were asked to choose between my parents, it would be difficult, because my mother is Malian and my father is Senegalese. That's why I prefer not to comment on the idea of war surrounding a match."
Tactically, Pape Thiaw explained how his team would approach the match: “We know we create a lot of chances, but we will have to be efficient and patient. Mali defends well; we will have to put them under pressure at the right moments to unbalance them and score.”
Regarding key players, he emphasized the importance of Kalidou Koulibaly, captain and defender of Senegal: "He is a very important player for our team. His presence inevitably changes the game, but we know what he can bring and we will prepare for it."
Finally, he reminded everyone that every match will be a challenge, even for Senegal: "No match is easy, and tomorrow will be no exception. We must remain focused, work together, and give our best to get through this."
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