Former Senegal coach Amara Traoré has urged patience with Patrick Vieira, saying it is too early to assess the Frenchman’s work after his first match in charge of the national team.
Vieira’s Senegal side opened their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 1-1 draw against Mozambique, a result that has already prompted questions about the new coach’s approach.
However, Traoré believes Vieira should be given more time to understand his players and establish his methods before any conclusions are reached.
The former Senegal international said Vieira has had too little time with the squad to be expected to immediately deliver a fully developed team.
“You can’t be a national team coach, have only two or three days of experience with a group, and ask the impossible. Judging him now is really premature.”
Traoré’s comments come after the draw with Mozambique, which marked the beginning of Vieira’s work with the Lions.
Rather than focusing on the result from the opening qualifier, Traoré believes attention should be given to the process Vieira is undertaking as he attempts to develop his own approach with the team.
According to the former coach, the new manager is still getting to know his squad while working towards establishing the tactical and organisational ideas he wants Senegal to adopt.
“He is in the process of learning. He will develop his own system, his own method. The best way to help him is to let him work and avoid premature judgments.”
Traoré therefore believes the upcoming fixtures will provide a better indication of how Vieira’s tenure is developing.
Senegal are due to face Ethiopia in their next 2027 AFCON qualifying match, before another encounter against Comoros, giving Vieira further opportunities to work with the squad and implement his ideas.
For Traoré, those matches should be viewed as part of a longer process rather than isolated opportunities to judge the new coaching staff.
The former Senegal coach believes Vieira and his staff need sufficient time to gradually construct a team capable of matching the country’s ambitions over the coming years.
The draw against Mozambique has therefore not changed Traoré’s view that Senegal should allow the new technical team to work before reaching conclusions about its progress.
Vieira’s task is to develop his system while becoming familiar with the players available to him, with the upcoming qualifiers offering more time on the training ground and in competitive matches.
Senegal will now turn their attention to Ethiopia as the qualifying campaign continues.
The meeting will provide Vieira with another opportunity to work with his players and further develop the ideas he has begun introducing since taking charge.
Fo Traoré, it is only through those upcoming matches that a clearer assessment of Vieira’s work can begin to emerge.
The former coach’s message is therefore one of patience, with the new Senegal technical team expected to be given the time needed to build a side capable of pursuing the country’s ambitions in the years ahead.
