The Senegalese Football Federation has filed an official complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) against Morocco, citing poor organization of the Lions of Teranga’s arrival in Rabat, the Moroccan capital, ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday.
According to the statement, Senegal’s reception in Rabat was disastrous, with players experiencing overcrowding at the train station, leading to risks unacceptable for a tournament of this magnitude.
Senegal also complained about the pre-assigned hotel, forcing the federation to contact both Morocco and CAF to request a change. Furthermore, they were denied permission to train at the Mohammed VI Stadium and received no notification regarding the team’s training arrangements less than 48 hours before the final match.
The Senegalese federation also expressed surprise at being allocated only two VIP tickets and the lack of availability for purchasing other tickets. They demanded full stadium access for Senegalese fans and condemned the restrictions imposed, which they believe are detrimental to their well-being.
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw commented on the organizational issues, saying, “What happened yesterday was not normal. The players and the fans were in a precarious security situation. What happened was not befitting a brotherly nation like Morocco and Senegal.”
He added, “We don’t want to spoil any celebration, and these issues must be resolved. Morocco’s organization was fantastic, but we had to shed light on what happened yesterday. And here I’m speaking as an African, not just as a Senegalese.”
He concluded, “Africa’s image is at stake. Our tournament, which no one used to watch, has been elevated to a high standard, and we mustn’t let that be ruined.”
