Lamine Sané puts CAN qualification ahead of title aim

Lamine Sané has set qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations as Senegal’s primary target, with winning the tournament on home soil described as an added reward rather than the immediate priority. The coach of the Lionceaux made the distinction after his team’s victory over Sierra Leone.

Senegal defeated Sierra Leone 5-0, a result that provided a strong platform for the campaign. Sané’s focus, however, remains on securing a place at the CAN before discussing the possibility of lifting the trophy. His comments place progress through qualification ahead of the final ambition.

Sané also addressed the composition of his squad during his press conference. Cheikh Oumar Sy and Souleymane Commissaire Faye were among the players he discussed after the match. The coach did not limit his assessment to the scoreline, using the post-match appearance to consider the group available to him.

For Senegal’s Lionceaux, the sequence is clear: qualification comes first, while a title would represent the bonus of competing at home. The 5-0 win over Sierra Leone gives the side momentum, but Sané’s stated objective is to complete the qualification task before turning fully to the trophy challenge.