Senegalese football fans and officials have expressed serious concerns over the treatment of their national team ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final against Morocco. The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has complained about the lack of adequate security, poor hotel accommodations, and limited ticket allocations for their supporters.
Upon arriving in Rabat, Morocco, by train on Friday, the Senegal players were swarmed by fans attempting to take selfies, forcing them to push their way through to the team bus. Senegal manager Pape Thiaw described the situation as unacceptable, stating that “what happened yesterday was not normal” and that “anything could have happened” as his players were “at risk.”
The FSF also raised concerns about the training pitch they were offered, which was located at the Morocco team’s base, and the overall lack of support and encouragement from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the continent’s governing body.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe acknowledged the federation’s “duty” to ensure that Senegal receives “all the support and encouragement they require” for the final.
Senegal, the reigning AFCON champions, are aiming to win the competition for a second time when they face host nation Morocco on Sunday evening. The match kicks off at 19:00 GMT.
There is also uncertainty surrounding the future of Senegal’s star player, Sadio Mane, who hinted that the final could be his last appearance at the tournament. Following Senegal’s semi-final victory over Egypt, Mane told reporters that he would not play at AFCON again.
However, Thiaw believes Mane’s decision was made in the “heat of the moment” and that the country and the national team coach do not agree with it. Thiaw expressed a desire to keep Mane for as long as possible, stating that “his decision is no longer up to him” and that “there is a whole people behind him too and they would like to see him continue.”
The 2027 AFCON tournament is set to be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, and Mane, who is Senegal’s all-time leading scorer with 52 goals in 123 appearances, will turn 35 in April next year.