Senegal coach Alain Giresse is likely to become the first managerial casualty of the Africa Cup of Nations after his side’s elimination at the hands of Algeria on Tuesday.
Senegal started the day at the top of Group C after beating eventual group winners Ghana in their first game and drawing with South Africa, who ended up with the wooden spoon. But a disappointing 2-0 loss to the North Africans meant the Frenchman had to hope Ghana could fare no better than his team against the South Africans – a hope that was dashed by the Black Stars come-from-behind second half victory.
“This is the end, my contract ends here,” Giresse told a press conference after the loss.
Giresse, a former France international, was entrusted with the Senegalese team on 8 January 2013 on a two-year contract under which he committed himself to win matches.
“The goal is the same everywhere with football; it’s all about winning games. That’s the end,” the French technician told the press when he arrived in Dakar.
“Our choice in Alain Giresse is justified by the fact that he has confirmed experience in African football after coaching Gabon and Mali which (sic) he reached the semi-finals of the AFCON in 2012 and 2013”, the President of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), Augustin Senghor said at the time.
