The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has raised serious concerns over what it described as unfair treatment of its national team in Morocco ahead of Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final clash against the host nation.
In a strongly worded statement issued early Saturday, the FSF criticised what it alleged were lapses in security during the team’s arrival in Rabat, challenges with accommodation, concerns over training facilities, and difficulties in securing what it termed a fair ticket allocation for Senegalese supporters.
The federation called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Local Organising Committee to “immediately take every corrective measure to guarantee respect for the principles of fair play, equal treatment, and security indispensable for the success of this celebration of African football.”
Senegal’s players travelled by train from Tangier to Rabat on Friday, but upon arrival encountered what the FSF described as a “clear lack of adequate security measures.”
“This deficiency exposed the players and technical staff to overcrowding and risks incompatible with the standards of a competition of this magnitude and the prestige of a continental final,” the federation said.
According to the FSF, the situation was compounded by accommodation issues, forcing the federation to file a formal written complaint before sufficient hotel arrangements were eventually secured for the squad. The statement did not provide details of the initial lodging conditions offered to the team.
The federation also disclosed that it had formally notified CAF of its “categorical refusal” to conduct training sessions at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, the training base used by the Moroccan national team throughout the tournament. Morocco is also scheduled to train on Saturday.
Ticketing arrangements were another major source of concern for Senegal. The FSF said it was only able to purchase 2,850 tickets for its supporters, in line with the maximum quota authorised by CAF.
The allocation, the federation stressed, was “insufficient given the demand” and it “deplores the imposed restrictions, which penalize the Senegalese public.”
The AFCON final will be played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, which has a seating capacity of 69,500. Morocco has enjoyed overwhelming home support throughout the tournament, a trend widely expected to continue in the final.
Morocco is seeking to end a 50-year wait for a second Africa Cup of Nations title, while Senegal, champions in 2021, are also chasing their second continental crown.
Explaining its decision to go public, the Senegalese Football Federation said it was acting “in the interest of transparency and to defend the interests of the Senegalese national team.”
