Senegal Coach Explains Why Teranga Lions Had no Mercy for Harambee Stars

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has opened up over why his team went all-out on Kenya who they beat 8-0 in a friendly match in Turkey on Tuesday.

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has reacted to his team’s historic win over Kenya in a friendly match in Turkey on Tuesday.

The Teranga Lions hammered Harambee Stars 8-0 to record their biggest international win as the star-studded Senegalese ran riot with six of the eight goals scored in the first half.

Even though Kenya were set to pose little threat, Thiaw still fielded a strong lineup with all his big hitters starting, and they were on song from the first until the final whistle.

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Thiaw says his players had firm instructions to take the game seriously as it was part of their preparations for next month’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, added to the fact they were coming from a defeat, having lost 2-0 to Brazil on Saturday.

"I wanted to congratulate my players because they really followed the instructions. They played a serious game, respecting our game plan,” Thiaw said as per Wiwi Sport.

Senegal Coach Delighted by His Team’s Approach

“I thought it was very important, because we were coming off a defeat and, facing us, we knew we were up against a tough team. When you have competitive players who don't like to lose and who can bounce back after a defeat, it's a real asset.”

"You just told me we broke a record, but we just wanted to win this match and play seriously. Our objective was to play a decent game, and we did it. Congratulations to the players,” he added upon learning that the win was a record for his country.

Thiaw was also delighted that some of the combinations he was looking for came off well, having started with a three-man defence that had captain Kalidou Koulibaly, Abdoulaye Seck and debutant Mamadou Sarr as opposed to the back four his team is used to.

"We can't go into a competition with just one system,” Thiaw said of the need to try out different formations. “Because sometimes, depending on the context of the matches, it can change. Afterwards, when we have very committed and intelligent players... we only worked on it once.”

Senegal, who exited the 2023 AFCON at the Round of 16, are looking to reclaim the title they won in 2021 and are in Group D alongside Botswana, DR Congo and Benin at AFCON 2025 scheduled between December 21 and January 18 in Morocco.