LES ADVERSAIRES DES BLEUS : Sénégal, l’ambition d’un continent
African champions and now firmly established among the world's footballing elite, Senegal approaches the 2026 World Cup with high ambitions. For L'Entraîneur Français, Elimane Lam, 5th Vice-President of the Senegalese Football Federation, discusses the development of Senegalese football, the objectives of the Lions of Teranga, and the special ties between Senegal and France.
How is Senegalese football evolving today, particularly in the training of younger generations?
Senegalese football is the result of many years of hard work, organization, and investment in youth development. Under the leadership of the Senegalese Football Federation, we have strengthened the structure of our youth competitions, developed our academies, improved coach training, and invested in infrastructure. The results are now evident. Our youth national teams regularly rank among the best in Africa, and many of our talented players are now playing in top European leagues. However, we do not consider these successes an end in themselves. They represent a further step in our ambition to make Senegal a global leader in youth development. Our priority remains preparing the next generation so that each generation can raise the national colors even higher.
After your continental success, what are your ambitions for this World Cup?
We approach this competition with a great deal of humility, but also with very high ambitions.
We respect all the qualified nations, as they represent the elite of world football. However, we are not here to make up the numbers.
We want to make history. Our goal is to take it one match at a time, to overcome each obstacle with determination, and to reach the semi-finals. From there, anything is possible. Senegal now boasts talented, experienced players accustomed to the biggest international competitions.
We believe in our abilities and we have the ambition to fight to win this World Cup.
We want to demonstrate that an African nation can not only compete with the best teams in the world, but also conquer the ultimate title.
Your first match will be against France. What do you think are the main strengths of Les Bleus?
France is naturally among the world's footballing powerhouses. They boast an exceptional squad, a deep bench, and players accustomed to the highest level. Their strength lies in the quality of their youth development, their athleticism, their tactical mastery, and their ability to make the difference in decisive moments. They are a team with a true winning mentality and solid experience in major competitions. We have great respect for the French team, but we also have confidence in our own abilities. This will be a great match between two nations that share a rich footballing history and strong personal ties.
Who is your favorite for this 2026 World Cup?
Several nations have what it takes to go all the way: France, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Germany, and England. But if you ask me who my favorite is, I'll naturally say: Senegal. We respect all the great footballing nations.
Commentaires (10)
Participer à la Discussion
Règles de la communauté :
💡 Astuce : Utilisez des emojis depuis votre téléphone ou le module emoji ci-dessous. Cliquez sur GIF pour ajouter un GIF animé. Collez un lien X/Twitter, TikTok ou Instagram pour l'afficher automatiquement.