Qatar, injuries, Mendy, the youngsters... Aliou Cissé explains all at press conference

A team with their backs to the wall

The group is in good spirits despite the defeat. There are plenty of lessons to take from it. Senegal weren't bad. We stood up to one of the best teams in the world right now, ranked eighth in the FIFA rankings, with world-class players. I'm very pleased with my players. Tomorrow's match (against Qatar) is a very, very important one for both teams. You know, in competitions at this level, once you lose your first match, you're up against it in the second. It's up to us to concentrate and remember how we managed to get out of it when we had our backs to the wall.

Injury room

We have two lads who went off injured, Abdou Diallo and Cheikhou Kouyaté. Abdou Diallo returned to training yesterday and apparently he's doing very well. Ballo-Touré is back running but he will be unavailable tomorrow. Abdou resumed yesterday; Cheikhou, I hope he'll start running again today. We'll see how it goes. For now, the uncertainty remains mainly over Kouyaté. We are also hopeful that Cheikhou Kouyaté will be ready.

Start of the tournament

A defeat happens. We had been fortunate to begin all our tournaments with a win in the first match. In Russia, we won the first match and you know what followed. Today I can understand that some people doubt us. The players I manage want to keep going and write history for the Senegalese supporters. It's a chance for me to appeal to the supporters and tell them to keep believing in this team. We want to make our people happy.

You can lose a match and still put in a good performance. That was the case here. I was very disappointed with the lads because we deserved a point. Will there be changes? We'll find out tomorrow. What I can say is that there won't be a revolution.

Edouard Mendy

Edouard is fine. He's a lad with a mind of steel. Of course we've had a chat with him, as I do with most of our players. Edouard's qualities are not in question. He's going through a difficult spell but I have no doubt, he has my full confidence and that of his team-mates. Yes, he will be on the pitch tomorrow.

Attack

Every match is different. Tomorrow's will be too. Today I have no doubt that we have the attacking quality to score goals. I'm absolutely sure of it. Now, it's important to be efficient. That efficiency comes from mindset and attitude, being a bit more ruthless in front of goal, converting chances. I know we'll have the chance to score tomorrow. What matters, first of all, is winning that match. So, will it be a landslide? I don't lack humility and I don't lack respect for this Qatar team in saying so here. Winning will move us forward and give us fresh hope of preparing better for the match against Ecuador.

Strength

Experience is very important, but these are two champions, of Africa and Asia. You can imagine the importance and intensity there will be in this match. Two teams with their backs to the wall, who absolutely must pick up points. Experience is indeed important. We've played this kind of match throughout our journey over the last 7 years. We've managed them well and played them well. We're very calm and relaxed as we wait for the match tomorrow.

Victor BAGAYOKO in Doha