On the eve of the AFCON quarter-final against Mali, Senegalese midfielder Pape Gueye shared his feelings on the presence of an experienced player in the team and on Senegal's tactical preparation.

When asked about what Idrissa, the player who played every minute of the first four matches, represents, Gueye emphasized his impact both on and off the pitch: “It’s a real pleasure to play alongside Gana, both on and off the field. He’s someone with a lot of experience. Every time he speaks, you have to listen. He’s played in many important competitions and matches in his career. He brings us a lot of composure.”

The young Senegalese midfielder emphasizes the ease this experience brings to the team: “Playing with him makes things easier. He often explains how the match will unfold. Even though he’s 36, he’s still dynamic and competitive. For me, it’s a bit like he’s 20. We hope he’ll continue to support us, because we need it.”

Regarding preparations for the match against Mali, Gueye emphasized the importance of staying focused on the game and on what Senegal is capable of on the pitch: “As the coach said, it will be a very tough match against a very solid Malian team. We have been working all week on their style of play. But the most important thing is to stay focused on our own team, on what we know how to do and on what we can improve.”

He concluded by stating the clear objective for the quarter-final: "Our goal is not to draw tomorrow, but to win. We will produce what we know how to do and, above all, enjoy ourselves on the pitch."