Aliou Cissé's near-10-year tenure at the helm of Senegal senior men's national football team has come to an end, with the Senegal Football Federation confirming on Wednesday that his contract was not being renewed by the country's sports ministry.
The 48-year-old, who coached Senegal to their first Africa Cup of Nations title in Cameroon in 2022, has been informed that his contract -- which expired in August -- will not be extended in order for him to oversee the coming AFCON-World Cup cycle.
The Senegalese Football Federation confirmed the news in a communique on Wednesday, indicating that they were informed in a confidential letter received on Monday from the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Mrs Khady Diene Gaye, that Cissé's extension would not be validated after he failed to achieve the objectives outlined in his contract.
While Cissé was an African champion two-and-a-half years ago, Senegal failed to retain the title in Ivory Coast earlier this year, which was one of his contractual targets. In 2022 they also missed out on the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals after being defeated by England in the round of 16.
"The regression of our national team in the FIFA rankings, and the risk of disenchantment between our national team and the Senegalese people," were also given as reasons for the non-renewal of his contract.
"Mr Cissé is no longer covered by a contract duly approved by the state of Senegal, and can no longer take charge of the national team," the federation said in the communique, seen by ESPN.
The ministry has invited the federation to recruit a technical team to ensure the country's qualification for the 2025 Nations Cup, with an interim coaching staff to oversee the team's coming AFCON-qualifying double-header against Malawi on Oct. 11 and 15.
Cissé had been due to announce his squad for those fixtures in a press conference on Friday, but that has been cancelled.
"The Senegalese Federation [thanks] Mr Cissé for his good collaboration and his gleaming results at the head of various national teams since his arrival in 2011," the communique said.
"We wish him much success for the future."
Senegal have not lost a competitive match in 90 minutes since England defeated them at the Qatar World Cup, with their AFCON elimination earlier this year coming on penalties to eventual champions Ivory Coast in the round of 16.
They've won four of their six matches since the Nations Cup, including away victories over Mauritania and Burundi in World Cup and AFCON qualifying respectively. Supporters have been less impressed by their recent home performances, howevers, with 1-1 draws against the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burkina Faso in Diamniadio leading to some questions about Cissé's ongoing ability to get the most out of this talented squad.
Ziquinchor-born Cissé captained the iconic Senegal team that defeated world champions France in their first World Cup appearance in 2002, going on to reach the quarterfinals of that tournament in the same year that they also reached a first AFCON final, falling to Cameroon on penalties in Bamako.
A defensive midfielder, he represented Paris Saint-Germain, Birmingham City and Portsmouth during a 15-year professional playing career in France and England before entering the national coaching set-up initially as assistant coach of the under-23 side in 2012.
During this year's AFCON, Cissé spent a night in a Yamoussoukro hospital after being taken ill after Senegal's group-stage victory over Cameroon; he was diagnosed with a "benign infectious pathology".
"You've been the positive embodiment of our national team during this decade," Liverpool great and Senegal forward Sadio Mané wrote on social media. "Your time on our bench will not be in vain, we will always see in you a man who loves the flag of his country and who fought to raise our colours high. "Thank you, champion, for your service."
Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, who won the Nations Cup under Cissé, also paid tribute to the coach.
"Aliou, thank you. Thank you for having given me the opportunity to wear the Senegal shirt," he wrote on his Instagram handle, accompanied by a photo of Cissé lifting the AFCON trophy during the team's bus parade in Dakar in February 2022.
"I am proud and honoured to have shared so many good moments with you, including the historic moment when we lifted the first African Cup of Nations for our country Senegal.
"Thank you for your trust, and I wish you the best for the future."