When one hears the words “Senegal” and “football”, the first thing to come to mind is legend Aliou Cissé, the national ambassador for UNICEF in Senegal, who overcame trials and tribulations and paved the way for Senegal’s notary name in the sport. Born in Ziguinchor- almost a decade after Senegal’s independence- he dreamt of being a member of France’s PSG team which eventually came true as he was a renowned member of the team from the years 1998 to 2002.
He then transferred to the English Premier League playing for Birmingham City and Portsmouth, where he faced a life changing event. For an important fixture between Birmingham and West Ham (which they won 2-1), he kept a smiling face despite the pain that was eating him up on the inside. Over 10 members of his immediate and extended family were amongst the 1,863 killed in the Le Joola ferry crash, as a result of overcrowding. Known as one of the worst non-maritime crashes, racking up more deaths than the infamous Titanic, one can only begin to imagine the turmoil that Cissé experienced. He was admired for his strength and tenacity as he proceeded to play the premier league fixture as if it was any other day, and continued to keep a strong face for him, his family, and his teammates, showing how important the game is to him.
Seeing as he is deeply invested in the development of African football, in the same year he culminated playing for PSG, he played for the Senegalese team and assisted in leading them to the 2002 World Cup Quarter Finals. Following his impressive performance, in 2015 he was appointed the Taranga Lions manager replacing the foreign manager as Senegal’s local manager. In a matter of 62 matches managing the team, Cissé alone has led the team to 40 victories, 14 draws, and 8 total losses making an impressive feat for Senegal as they are ranked at 20th place for the FIFA rankings..
As the UNICEF National Ambassador, he is commended not only for his skills on the field, but his skills in the promotion of children’s rights and his focus on the development of Africa. A fit title for Cissé indeed.
