Yus:

You couldn't be more right! Excellent call  - Senegal 5 Namibia 0...A 1-1
stalemate in Algeria, thanks to a dubious penalty awarded to Egypt that
halted play for about 15 mins. Nonetheless, it will be 4 sub-saharan teams
representing real Africa in the next world cup!

Congratulations to the Lions of Senegal. We wish them another great outing
in Japan/S.Korea 2002.

Regards
BS


>From: Yusupha C Jow <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Senegalese Lions!
>Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 11:36:49 EDT
>
>Baboucarr:
>
>For the past couple of weeks I have been trying to intimate the remarkable
>run of Les Lions to the members of the L, but I think most were either too
>busy or just not aware of the latest soccer news.
>
>Regardless, this is a rejuvenated Senegalese team which is probably among
>the
>top three in Africa with Cameroon and S. Africa.  I was lucky enough to
>watch
>the last Les Lions in action during the last African Nations cup, and I
>must
>tell you that this is not the same team.  The last team, coached by Peter
>Shnittinger, a well traveled, veteran German physio,  played a more rabid
>in
>your face style of soccer: a bit reminiscent of our cousins'  big man,
>"Grande mbouba" toting, and loud mouth antics.  Weird analogy but this is
>the
>best I could come up with it to describe this frenetic style of play by Les
>Lions.
>
>But those of you who have been watching the game for a while will probably
>agree with me ; grandeur and overkill is a big part of Senegalese culture
>in
>particular and these attributes tend to seep into their style of football.
>One incident in particular stands out; in a match between Senegal and
>Guinea
>during the Zone 2 tourney at the Independence stadium in 1986, a Guinean
>attacker ventured into the opposing defense where he ran into the roadblock
>created by the great Jahou Gaye and Roger Mendy.  Roger, in true Grande
>fashion, tapped the ball over his head once, and instead of moving forward,
>he did it again to the poor Guinean chap.  Needless, to say, as a young
>impressionable man in the stands, I was amazed by the amazing audacity and
>skill displayed by the great libero.  This is "Grande" style soccer.  It is
>a
>style typified by a never die attitude but also one characterized by
>extreme
>showmanship.
>
>As much entertaining as the "Grande" style is, it was not going to get them
>to the highest stage.  Shnittinger let them play this style but, like a
>blessing in disguise, the German was replaced by a Frenchman called Bruno
>Metsau after the Nations Cup.  Metsau did something amazing.  He went to
>France and somehow convinced many French boys with ties to Senegal to
>represent their roots.  Most of them agreed.  Therefore, out went the
>"Grande" style of play and in came the Franco-Senegalese boys.  In came El
>Hadjj Ousainou Diouf (Rennes), Ferdinand Colley (Lens),  Malick Ndiaye (St
>Etienne), Aliou Cisse (PSG) Saliou Diao (Monaco)etc etc.  The only remnants
>of the old guard are Omar Daff at left back, Khaliliou Fadiga at left
>midfield or attack and the goalie.
>
>The impact of the Franco-Senegalese is the reason for this success.  I pray
>for Les Lions tomorrow. I would rather see a true sub-Saharan African team
>in
>the big dance any day instead of some N. African side which would rather
>represent the Arab World. Will Arab solidarity be the order of the day?
>No!
>I predict that Senegal will penetrate the Namibian defense multiple times
>tomorrow.  Out of those multiple penetrations, five goals shall result.
>
>Allez Les Lions
>
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