Senegal defender Moussa Niakhaté has admitted that the Teranga Lions’ World Cup campaign was a failure.
Niakhaté made the admission while stressing the need for Senegal to draw confidence from their status as reigning African champions as they continue their qualification campaign.
“The World Cup did not unfold as we would have wished. We are also African Champions: we must not speak of it in the past tense,” Niakhaté said.
“We must rely on our status during these qualifiers and give ourselves the means to secure qualification.
“Senegal must qualify. We have acknowledged that the World Cup was a failure for us. Now we must turn the page and move forward.”
The defender believes Senegal must use their recent continental success as motivation as they seek to secure their place at the next World Cup.