World Cup 2022 - Pape Gueye: "Senegal can dream as big as any nation"

Pape Gueye is about to play in his first World Cup with Senegal. The midfielder from Olympique de Marseille is eager to step out onto the pitches in Qatar. And it is fair to say the 23-year-old makes no secret of his ambition. In an interview with AFP, the player, who has 12 caps for the Lions of Teranga, is not holding back from dreaming.

"Of course there are expectations. People know we have a quality group and that we won Senegal's first AFCON. Now they expect us to deliver in front of the whole world," said the OM midfielder. "We have a goal in mind. I'm not going to tell you what it is, but it's ambitious, very ambitious", Pape Gueye insists. He also explained that he had the right to "dream like France or Spain". "We don't put ourselves below them. The world can see what we are capable of, and we are coming to show that Senegal can dream as high as any nation".

Sadio Mané, a big loss, but…

But anyone talking about Senegal inevitably thinks of Sadio Mané's absence. Pape Gueye is aware of that. However, the player, who developed at Le Havre, does not want it to be a handicap. Quite the opposite. Even if it may prove difficult, the African champion has faith in his other team-mates.

"Sadio Mané changes everything. As soon as he touches the ball, opponents think 'watch out' and it frees up the others. The captain is Kalidou Koulibaly, but when Mané speaks in the dressing room, you listen. Mané is irreplaceable, but we have very good attackers, wide players with a bit of his style, pace, directness..." Senegal begin their campaign on Monday against the Netherlands, in Group A, which also includes Qatar and Ecuador.

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