This archive report was first published on 13 July 2019.
Published on July 13, 2019, Senegal's coach Aliou Cisse acknowledges the team's toughest challenge lies ahead as they bid to win the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time.
Senegal, the highest-ranked African nation at 22nd in the world, is making a first semi-final appearance since 2006. Their opponents, Tunisia, have not advanced this far since winning the competition on home soil 15 years ago.
"We're close to the goal, in the sense of us being in the semi-finals. Having got to this stage here we have hope. But we know the hardest is yet to come," said Cisse, who missed the decisive spot-kick in Senegal's agonising penalty shootout defeat to Cameroon at the 2002 final.
"I'm aware of what getting to the semi-finals represents," said Tunisia boss Alain Giresse. "There was an obsessive aspect. It's a relief but not an end in itself."
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse, 43, replaced Giresse as Senegal coach in 2015. However, the former France star insisted his first-hand knowledge of the opposition would have little bearing on the result.
"It's pretty special to be on the other side, but it's a personal thing that only concerns me. It won't factor into the preparation of the Tunisian players," he added.
