Rabat – Less than 48 hours before the Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco, scheduled for Sunday, the Senegal Football Federation (FSF) issued a strongly worded statement criticizing aspects of the tournament’s organization.
The federation alleged a “series of organizational and security shortcomings” in the preparations for the final and warned against any “undermining of fairness and equal opportunities” in one of the tournament’s most high-profile matches.
The FSF emphasized that it was addressing “the national and international public, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and the local organizing committee, in the spirit of transparency and to defend the interests of the national team.”
The statement highlighted several specific concerns. The FSF criticized what it described as a “clear absence of security arrangements” upon the team’s arrival at Rabat train station, claiming the resulting congestion exposed players and technical staff to “unacceptable risks.”
The federation also reiterated its refusal to train at the Mohammed VI Sports Complex, Morocco’s main national team facility, stating that it formally communicated this to CAF and arguing that the arrangement violated principles of fairness and equal opportunity. At the time of the statement, the team had not received official notice of an alternative training venue.
Senegal’s statement additionally raised concerns about ticket allocations. It noted that while the federation was able to purchase the maximum number allowed by CAF for its supporters –300 in the first category, 850 in the second, and 1,700 in the third ,– these numbers did not meet the strong demand from Senegalese fans.
The statement sparked widespread discussion in Moroccan sports and media circles, with many observers describing the claims as unfair and not reflective of the preparations that have accompanied the competition since its launch.
Since the start of the tournament, the local organizing committee affirmed that Morocco has provided professional and transparent conditions for all participating teams. Security and logistical arrangements follow CAF protocols and are applied equally to every team, and any organizational matters are addressed through official channels rather than public statements.
The Mohammed VI Sports Complex, highlighted in Senegal’s statement, is recognized as one of the continent’s top training facilities, having previously hosted national and international teams without issue.
The ticket allocations are determined solely by CAF regulations, Morocco’s football authorities have been reported to have suggested, adding that the country has strictly adhered to these guidelines to ensure fair and organized distribution.
Overall, they stressed, Morocco as host nation has sought to provide optimal conditions for all participating teams, applying professional and transparent measures across security, logistics, training, and fan accommodations.
