Senegal focused on Norway, not just Haaland, coach says

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw is focused on a comprehensive strategy to overcome Norway in their crucial World Cup qualifier, asserting that their plan targets the entire Norwegian team, not solely star striker Erling Haaland. "It is not an anti-Haaland plan, it is an anti-Norway plan," Thiaw told reporters.

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It is not an anti-Haaland plan, it is an anti-Norway plan.

Thiaw acknowledged the difficulty of their group, especially after an opening 3-1 loss to favorites France. He stressed that the upcoming match against Norway is vital, describing all group games as "finals." Senegal must secure three points to keep their hopes of progressing to the round of 32 alive, particularly with a final match against Iraq remaining.

Despite Norway's strong performance against Iraq, where Haaland scored twice, Thiaw warned against fixating on the striker. He expressed confidence in his defenders' ability to handle high-caliber forwards, emphasizing the need to neutralize Norway's collective threat. "We have defenders that have played in high-level competitions who have come across strikers of this calibre before," he stated.

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All three games are like finals, we have lost the first one but there is still everything to play for.

Senegal's defensive record is a concern, having not kept a clean sheet in their last 12 World Cup matches. "It is true we have conceded a lot of goals. There is no room for error anymore," Thiaw admitted, highlighting the urgency for a solid defensive performance.

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We are ready to die for Africa and Senegal.

On a personal note, Thiaw confirmed that his contract dispute with the Senegalese Football Federation has been settled. He clarified that the issue was about "principles and respect," not finances. He also addressed reports of player dissatisfaction with training camp conditions, calling them minor "creases that need to be ironed out" and asserting that everyone remains focused on the upcoming game.

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It is true we have conceded a lot of goals. There is no room for error anymore.