He missed out on the World Cup glory as a player but Yaya Toure is hoping Senegal will fly the flag for Africa.
The former Ivory Coast midfielder was part of a stellar squad in 2010 which failed to get past the group stages. But with African football now reaching new heights, Toure believes this year's AFCON champions are ready to rumble.
“For me Senegal is in a good place. They have many good players with Premier League experience and they have come through a tough group. They are the African champions and even though Sadio Mane is not with them, they are showing why they must be respected.”
Four years ago in Russia, all five nations hailing Africa went out in the group stages, This time Morocco went through for the first time since 1986, becoming the first nation from the continent to top their group since Nigeria in 1998.
Senegal also made it through for the first time since they reached the quarter-finals in 2002.
Toure is also aiming for a fresh personal challenge by moving into management. The 39-year-old was one of the most outstanding players of his era, lifting the Champions League and two La Liga titles with Barcelona, along with three Premier League crowns with Manchester City.
Toure also scored the FA Cup Final winner in the 2011 showdown against Stoke - the first major trophy of the Abu Dhabi era at City. He retired as a player in 2019 after a brief stint in China, and joined the coaching staff at Tottenham ’s academy last summer. But he has always wanted to go into management - even before his brother Kolo took charge at Wigan last month.
“I am looking for it,” he said. “All my life and all my career when I was a player, I loved challenges. Now it's a different challenge. A challenge that suits me to be honest.
“I can’t wait to see myself in this industry. Not as a player, now as a manager. Surrounded by players that I have to manage, work with and make better.
“Make them believe and make them understand the football you want them to play. It's something that excites me. I’m really looking forward to it, to be honest.”
