Senegal FA issues scathing statement on security lapses before AFCON final

The AFCON 2025 final has been plunged into controversy just hours before kick-off, as the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) released a scathing dossier of complaints against Moroccan organizers and CAF.

In a move that threatens to overshadow Sunday’s showpiece event in Rabat, the Teranga Lions have officially demanded “immediate corrective measures,” citing major security lapses, sub-standard housing, and a “lack of sporting fairness.”

The drama in the Senegalese camp provides a sense of “I told you so” for Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos. Prior to South Africa’s quarter-final exit, the Belgian mentor was vocal about the suspicious logistical hurdles placed in front of visiting teams.

Broos famously complained that Bafana’s hotel was 45 minutes from their training ground and, more shockingly, that their designated training site was located inside the base camp of potential opponents, Morocco.

Senegal has now hit a similar wall. The FSF has officially refused to train at the Mohammed VI Complex, arguing that using the hosts’ private base camp is a breach of sporting integrity.

“This decision is motivated by the fact that these facilities serve as the base camp for the opposing team,” the FSF stated. “To date, we have not yet received notification of an alternative official training site.”

Security and Hotel Dramas At AFCON ahead of Final

The FSF claims the “hostile” environment began the moment they touched down. The federation deplored a “manifest absence” of security at the Rabat railway station, which they say left stars like Sadio Mané and Kalidou Koulibaly exposed to dangerous overcrowding.

Furthermore, the team was forced to file a formal protest regarding their initial hotel accommodation, which was deemed unfit for a professional national team. Only after the legal threat did organizers relocate the “Lions” to a suitable 5-star establishment.

The Ticket ‘Squeeze’

Perhaps the most significant blow to the Senegalese public is the ticket allocation. Despite the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium boasting a 70,000-seat capacity, the FSF alleges they have been “restricted” to just: 300 Category 1 tickets. 850 Category 2 tickets and 1,700 Category 3 tickets.

The FSF labeled these numbers “insufficient” for the thousands of fans traveling from Dakar and the diaspora, accusing CAF of penalizing the Senegalese public to ensure a pro-Morocco atmosphere.

A Final Under a Cloud

As the two giants of African football prepare to clash, the focus has shifted from the pitch to the boardroom. Senegal—winners in 2021—are clearly feeling the heat of playing a host nation that has been accused of controlling the tournament’s logistics too tightly.

Whether CAF acts on these “corrective measures” before tomorrow’s 21:00 (SAST) kick-off remains to be seen.