Amara Traoré : «L’équipe du Sénégal a besoin d’un rituel collectif pour tourner la page et recréer une cohésion »
As the Senegalese national team prepares to open a new chapter with the appointment of Patrick Vieira as head coach of the Lions, Amara Traoré, former Senegalese coach, urges players to look beyond purely sporting considerations. For him, rebuilding the team also requires reconciliation, dialogue, and restoring trust between the players and management.
The change of coach alone may not be enough to erase the tensions that have arisen in recent months. It is in this context that the former Lions coach shared a rather unusual idea on his Facebook page: to organize a symbolic "ndeup" (exorcism) intended to mark a break with the past and allow the group to start afresh.
"Beyond the technical or tactical aspects, the Senegal team needs a collective ritual to turn the page and recreate cohesion," he believes.
"Purifying" relations after the World Cup
In his reflections, the former coach specifically mentions the lingering effects of the events surrounding Senegal's participation in the last World Cup. According to him, some players may still harbor frustrations related to broken promises, internal tensions, or a lack of communication.
The "ndeup," presented here as an essentially symbolic gesture, would thus aim to materialize a collective desire to start afresh. "Some players have carried invisible wounds—broken promises, internal tensions, lack of communication. Ignoring them risks further weakening the group," he emphasizes.
The idea would therefore not be to consider the ritual as a response to sporting difficulties, but rather as a metaphor for a process of reconciliation between the different components of the selection.
A space for dialogue between players and managers
Beyond the symbolic aspect, Amara Traoré emphasizes above all the need to create a genuine space for dialogue. Players, management, and coaching staff should, in his view, be able to express their feelings and any frustrations within a framework that allows for the restoration of trust.
"Leaders and players must share a space for dialogue where everyone can express their feelings without fear of punishment. This can restore trust," he says.
This approach should also be accompanied, in his view, by a clarification of responsibilities. The key players in the new cycle—the national team coach, captains, and federation officials—should, in particular, set an example in terms of transparency and unity.
Patrick Vieira's arrival comes at a time when Senegal is looking to rebuild. The former French midfielder takes the reins of the Lions following Pape Thiaw's departure, tasked with rebuilding team cohesion and preparing for upcoming matches.
For Amara Traoré, the change on the bench must therefore be accompanied by a change in relationships within the national team.
The "ndeup" he refers to can thus be understood as a powerful image: purifying the past to better prepare for the future. But beyond the symbolism, he primarily advocates concrete work on communication, governance, and mutual trust.
At the dawn of the Patrick Vieira era, Senegal's challenge will therefore not only be to implement a new playing style. It will also be about rebuilding a team capable of looking in the same direction.
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