Senegal need mentality change, Metsu

Former Senegal coach Bruno Metsu has called for a change of mentality from the team's handlers if they are to qualify for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2014 World Cup.

The 58-year-old Frenchman, who led the Teranga Lions to the final of the 2002 Nations Cup and the quarter-finals of the World Cup in the same year stressed that having good players was not enough.

Senegal were pre-tournament favourites to win the continental showpiece in Gabon-Equatorial Guinea, but flopped spectacularly when they lost their three group games and crashed out in the opening round.

Metsu blamed divisions in the side and called for unity and a winning mentality if the awesome potential of the Lions is to be realised.

"The Senegal national team should be one of the best on the African continent. It has great talents, enormous value, but the problem is the spirit controlling the outfit," Metsu said, according to Starafrica.com.

"Having good players in a team is not just enough. It is important for everybody in the squad to have a common objective, and not being divided and distracted. That was exactly what happened to the team during the 2012 Afcon.

"Now efforts are being focused towards the 2013 Afcon and the 2014 World Cup, but the first thing to handle is the mindset governing the team. This must change. It must be a united and winning spirit," he added.

Senegal will tackle Liberia and Uganda in World Cup qualifiers in June before meeting a yet-to-be-named side in the final round of qualifying for next year's Nations Cup in September.

source : Africaplays