Former Birmingham City midfielder Aliou Cisse leads Senegal to AFCON glory

Cisse played for the Blues in the Premier League between 2002-2004
Ben Ramsdale
By Ben Ramsdale
Published 7th Feb 2022, 10:39 BST

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Former Birmingham City midfielder Aliou Cisse led Senegal to their first ever Africa Cup of Nations title on Sunday evening, beating Egypt on penalties.

The Blues paid tribute to Cisse, who played for the club between 2002-2004, with a congratulatory message on social media following the triumph.

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It was a win that brought redemption for the 45-year-old who retired from playing in 2009.

Just prior to his move to St Andrew’s in 2002, Cisse captained the Senegal side that were runners up to Cameroon in that year’s AFCON.

The game, like the 2022 addition, couldn’t be decided in 120 minutes and went to penalties with Cisse being one of the unfortunate men to step up and miss his spot-kick.

20 years on and he was able to finally bury that hatchet as a manager as he watched his team become the first Senegal team in history to secure AFCON glory.

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“I dedicate this victory to the Senegalese people,” Cisse said following the game.

“For years, we have been chasing this cup. Today we will be able to put a star on our jersey.

“Winning the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon has a special meaning. Winning against the most successful team in Africa is another symbol.”

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