Senegal FA raises concerns over organisation ahead of AFCON final

By Awambeng Fuh

Journalist kick442.com Cameroon

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has expressed serious concerns over what it describes as organisational shortcomings in the build-up to the Africa Cup of Nations final.

In a statement released on Sunday, the FSF said it was alarmed by several issues relating to security, accommodation, training facilities and ticketing, which it believes could undermine fairness and safety at the continent’s showpiece match.

The federation said members of the Senegal squad and technical staff were exposed to unnecessary risks on arrival in Rabat after what it described as an inadequate security presence at the railway station.

According to the FSF, the lack of proper security led to overcrowding around the delegation, falling short of the standards expected for a major international final.

The FSF also raised concerns about accommodation arrangements, stating that it had to submit a formal written protest before the team was eventually allocated a five-star hotel. The federation said the move was necessary to ensure suitable recovery conditions for the players.

On training arrangements, the FSF confirmed it had formally refused to hold training sessions at the Mohammed VI Complex, arguing that the facility serves as the base camp of the opposing team and therefore compromises sporting fairness.

It added that, as of the time of the statement, it had yet to receive official confirmation of an alternative training venue for the Senegal team.

Ticketing has also emerged as a major point of contention. The FSF said its official allocation amounted to just two VVIP tickets, and complained about the absence of opportunities to purchase additional VIP or VVIP tickets, unlike during the semi-finals.

While the federation said it had managed to secure tickets for supporters within the limits authorised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), it described the numbers as insufficient to meet demand.

The FSF said it was allocated 300 tickets in Category 1, 1,850 in Category 2 and 1,700 in Category 3, but criticised what it called restrictive measures that disadvantage Senegalese fans.

In its statement, the federation called on CAF and the local organising committee to take immediate corrective action to ensure security, equal treatment and respect for fair play, which it said were essential for the successful staging of African football’s flagship event.