This archive report was first published on 30 June 2019.
Published on June 30, 2019, ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations match between Kenya and Senegal, a heated exchange erupted between the two teams' coaches, Sebastien Migne and Aliou Cisse.
Kenya's Sebastien Migne sparked the controversy when he questioned Senegal's mental strength, stating, 'Senegal have never won the Africa Cup of Nations title. But if you look at them, they have quality. They have always been at the same level as Cameroon, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, and Egypt but they have never won the title. Is it that they do not have the mental strength? I do not know.'
Senegal's coach, Aliou Cisse, a World Cup participant as a player in 2002 and coach in 2018, and a 2002 Africa Cup of Nations finalist, fired back at Migne, saying, 'I think it is up to the Kenyan coach to mind his own business. We have played at the World Cup and have not lost to an African opponent in three years until Algeria beat us recently.'
Cisse added, 'We have no choice. We have to beat Kenya.'
The match between Kenya and Senegal, both with three points, was crucial for advancing to the next round of the tournament. The match kicked off at 9pm local time (10pm Kenyan time) at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo.
