Everyone, including their coach, can see that Senegal have great potential

AT 40, Senegal coach Aliou Cisse still looks as fit as a fiddle but now has the difficult task of guiding the Lions of Teranga to the World Cup in less than two years’ time.

His job could easily accelerate a growth spurt of grey hairs, especially if you are having to try and find a winning formula with a team as talented as he has at his disposal.

“We have been together for a year now and everyone can see there is great potential,” Cisse said yesterday at the new Peter Mokaba Stadium shortly after Senegal’s final training session in preparing to face Bafana Bafana in a 2018 World Cup qualifier this afternoon ( 3pm kickoff).

“They are maturing together, but it is very difficult to get them to play the way I want them to play.

“Yes, they are scattered all throughout Europe and since I took over ( in March last year) I have selected a lot of different players to try and make this team more solid,” he added.

Cisse’s men sit top of Group D, which also includes Burkina Faso and Cape Verde, a side they beat 2- 0 in Dakar last month in their qualification opener, while Bafana drew 1-1 against Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou.

Senegal are favourites to reach the global showpiece in Russia as outright winners of the group because they pack a punch – Sadio Mane ( Liverpool), Kalidou Koulibaly ( Napoli), Mame Diouf ( Stoke City) and Cheikhou Kouyate ( West Ham) – but have nothing to show for it so far, as they were below par at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations under a different coach.

Senegal’s hopes of winning a first ever Afcon title faded with their golden generation of the 2000s, that included striker El Hadji Diouf and Cisse himself as captain, when they finished as runners- up at Afcon 2002.

“It is easy to strike a balance for South Africa because most of the players are home- based,” said Cisse, in a remark that could easily be interpreted as looking down on Bafana’s lack of exports.

“But we are trying. We scored 13 goals in qualifying for next year’s Afcon ( in Gabon), but those did not come from just our strikers, but the midfielders and some defenders.”

Senegal’s road to next year’s Afcon is one of the reasons why they are feared widely expected to run riot in Gabon. Cisse masterminded a 100 percent winning record in qualifying for the biennial competition in January, while his South African counterpart Shakes Mashaba – who is over two decades his senior – failed to secure a spot at the continental event.

Tomorrow the two face off with contrasting fortunes over the past year, and the man who walks away victorious will be in pole position for World Cup qualification, although there is still some way to go.

“It’s important to finish the year on a high,” said Cisse.

“We know 2016 has been a great year for Senegal and I am extremely happy with the input of my players. I have selected a team that I believe will help us to win against South Africa.”