The Senegalese national team has expressed serious concerns over preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, highlighting issues with security, accommodation, training facilities, and ticketing.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) said it felt compelled to speak out “for the sake of transparency and defence of the interests of the Senegal national team,” following a series of perceived lapses during the build-up to the final.
The communiqué, addressed to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the public, pointed to gaps in security arrangements upon the team’s arrival in Morocco.
“The FSF deplores the clear absence of adequate safety measures when the Senegalese delegation arrived at the Rabat railway station,” the statement read, warning that the situation exposed players and officials “to conditions incompatible with the standards of a competition of this magnitude and the stature of a continental final.”
Accommodation issues were also raised, with the FSF noting that formal complaints had to be made before satisfactory arrangements were secured. “Regarding hotel logistics, an official protest by mail was necessary to win the case. A 5-star hotel was finally allocated to the Lions, ensuring the recovery conditions required for the team,” the federation said.
On training facilities, Senegal rejected the initially proposed venue, citing concerns over fairness. “The FSF has officially notified CAF of its categorical refusal to hold training sessions at the Mohammed VI Complex, which serves as the base camp of the opposing team, raising a problem of sporting fairness,” the statement explained. The team had reportedly not yet received confirmation of an alternative training site at the time of the release.
Ticketing arrangements were another point of contention. The FSF said the team had been allocated only two VVIP tickets for the final, far fewer than in the semi-finals. While the federation purchased the maximum number of tickets permitted by CAF—300 Category 1, 850 Category 2, and 1,700 Category 3—it noted that these quantities were insufficient to meet demand.
The statement concluded with a call for swift action. “The Senegalese Football Federation urges CAF and the Local Organising Committee to take immediate corrective measures to ensure respect for the principles of Fair Play, equal treatment, and safety, all essential to the success of this African football festival,” the FSF said.
Senegal will face Morocco in the AFCON 2025 final after defeating Egypt in Wednesday’s semi-final, aiming to secure another continental title for the Teranga Lions.
