Senegal coach Patrick Vieira says his side are “on the right track” after beginning his tenure with a draw and a win in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Vieira took charge of the Lions of Teranga for their opening two qualifying matches, starting with a frustrating 1-1 draw against Mozambique before guiding the team to a 1-0 victory over Ethiopia.
The former France international believes the early results have provided useful information as he works to introduce a new tactical approach to the Senegal team.
“A new game plan is being implemented. It wasn’t perfect, but we have a lot of information regarding areas for improvement. Winning today gives us confidence. I think we’re on the right track.”
The victory over Ethiopia was Vieira’s first since taking charge of Senegal and came courtesy of Ibrahim Mbaye’s goal.
After dropping points against Mozambique in his opening match, Vieira was able to oversee a winning performance against Ethiopia and begin building momentum in his new role.
The Senegal coach also used the second qualifier to introduce new faces to the national team, with Malang Sarr and Issa Soumare among the players making their debuts against Ethiopia.
Vieira’s first two matches have therefore given him an early opportunity to assess his squad while beginning the process of implementing his preferred game plan.
The 1-1 draw with Mozambique provided a frustrating opening to his tenure, but the response against Ethiopia gave Senegal their first victory under the new coach.
Vieira said the early stages of his tenure were about learning from the performances and identifying areas where the team could improve.
Rather than focusing solely on the imperfections of the new system, he pointed to the information gathered from the opening matches and the confidence gained from securing a win.
The former French midfielder now has another opportunity to assess his squad when Senegal return to action in October.
Their next assignment is a friendly against Comoros at the Orange Vélodrome in Marseille on 4 October.
The match will give Vieira another chance to work with his players and continue developing the new approach he has begun implementing since taking over the Lions of Teranga.
With a draw and a win from his first two competitive matches, Vieira has made an unbeaten start to his Senegal tenure and will now turn his attention to the next stage of preparations.
The friendly against Comoros will also provide an opportunity for further assessment as Vieira continues to shape his team following his appointment as Senegal coach.
