Senegalese football is in mourning. Former international Saliou Cissé, affectionately nicknamed “Chita”, died this Friday at the age of 80. The former Lions captain was buried on Saturday in the Ouakam cemetery, his native district in Dakar.
Born on April 16, 1944, Chita marked the 1960s and 1970s by her elegance on the ground. Refined playmaker, he evolved in the ranks of US Ouakam then asc Almadies. Renowned for his vision of the game, his precision on set kicks and his famous cushioning of the chest, he was a model of technical finesse. In his work Senegal, the saga of the national football team, journalist Mamadou Koumé describes him as a master of rhythm and an outstanding organizer, a real “metronome” of his team.
His career took a decisive turning point in 1964. At only 20 years old, he led the US Ouakam to victory in the national cup final against the COT (2-1), before celebrating his first national selection the same year against Dynamo Minsk. He will then be a pillar of the Senegal team, participating in particular in the CAN 1968 in Ethiopia. On January 5, 1969, he entered the legend by scoring a double against Morocco during the World Cup qualifiers.
-After his sports retirement in 1971, Saliou Cissé continued his professional life as a teacher and then a framework for Air Afrique, without ever ceasing to support the Senegalese athletes. “He knew how to take care of athletes in his profession whenever it was necessary,” says Mamadou Koumé.
The disappearance of Chita leaves an immense emptiness in the sports heritage of Senegal. There will forever remain an emblematic figure, both for its exploits in the field and its integrity outside the stages.
