Football
Ian Holyman, France correspondent 7y

Cheikhou Kouyate: African Nations Cup wins show Senegal have grown up

Cheikhou Kouyate has said he believes Senegal's impressive displays at the African Nations Cup shown that the team has grown up and stopped "whining like children."

Senegal had not progressed beyond the group stage of the tournament since 2006 despite expectations of success sparked by the talent at their disposal.

Liverpool striker Sadio Mane scored his second goal in two group games in the 2-0 win over Zimbabwe on Thursday as Senegal ended their decade-long wait for a place in the knockout stages.

And having opened the competition with a 2-0 win over Tunisia, Senegal -- coached by former Portsmouth and Birmingham City midfielder Aliou Cisse -- appear to be living up to their billing as one of the favourites.

"We'd been crying like children for 10 years. This year, we've decided to come here and show that Senegal has grown, that this generation wants to write the history of Senegalese football," West Ham midfielder Kouyate told reporters.

"The hardest bit is to come. The start was to try and get out of the group. We're not going to stop now, and we'll do everything to make the Senegalese people happy."

Senegal, who are assured of finishing top of Group B, play a final group game against Algeria on Jan. 23 before heading into their quarterfinal tie five days later.

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