This archive report was first published on 30 June 2019.
Kenya's Harambee Stars coach Sebastien Migne sparked controversy on Sunday by questioning the mental strength of their next opponents, Senegal, ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Speaking at a news conference on the eve of the Group C meeting between the two countries at Cairo's 30 June Stadium on Monday, Migne said: 'We know that they have never won an Africa Cup of Nations despite having the same qualities of players as the Cameroonians and Ivorians, who have already been crowned champions several times. For that, we have to question their mental strength.'
He added: 'We have nothing to lose and everything to gain against a team of the quality of Senegal, who have players of the highest level. We will play our football with great enthusiasm and knowing that it is possible to qualify for the second round if we get the right result.'
However, Migne's comments did not sit well with his counterpart Alou Cisse, who held a news conference of his own soon after. Cisse suggested Migne might like to have a go at coaching the Senegal side before reminding him that Senegal had been 'the top ranked team in Africa for a long time now and our first defeat on this continent in four years came last Thursday against Algeria'.
