Senegal Football Federation President Says Team Doctor’s Credentials Raised Player Concerns at World Cup

JOHANNESBURG – Senegal Football Federation (SFF) president Abdoulaye Fall has revealed that some members of the national team questioned the credentials of the squad’s doctor during the FIFA World Cup in North America, raising concerns about confidence in the team’s medical support.

Speaking to the media on July 13 as the federation reflected on Senegal’s disappointing World Cup campaign, Fall said players were uneasy because team doctor Abderahmane Fediore was originally trained as a gynaecologist.

According to Fall, the concerns prompted the federation to strengthen the team’s medical staff during the tournament.

“Based on the feedback I received, the players were not sufficiently reassured about being supported by him. We had to find convincing expertise so they could feel reassured, because health comes before everything,” he said.

Fall said additional medical specialists were brought into the camp to reassure players and reinforce the team’s healthcare capacity.

However, the Senegalese Association of Sports Medicine has strongly disputed Fall’s claims, describing them as “unfounded and defamatory” in a statement released on Monday.

The association said Fediore is fully qualified in sports medicine, holding a specialist diploma in sports medicine and sports biology from Cheikh Anta Diop University. It added that he has served as Senegal’s national team doctor since 2017, overseeing the team’s medical care at three FIFA World Cups and five Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments.

The association’s response directly challenges the federation president’s account and suggests the controversy has intensified following Senegal’s disappointing World Cup performance.

World Cup campaign falls short of expectations

Fall’s remarks came just two days after the federation dismissed head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw following the team’s underwhelming showing at the tournament.

The Lions of Teranga travelled to North America carrying high expectations after winning the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year. Instead, the campaign unravelled quickly. Senegal lost its opening two group-stage matches against France and Norway before crashing out in the round of 32 against Belgium.

After taking a 2-0 lead, Senegal surrendered the advantage and eventually lost 3-2 after extra time in one of the tournament’s most dramatic knockout matches.

The World Cup disappointment has unfolded alongside another major challenge for Senegalese football: the ongoing legal battle over the country’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title.

The dispute stems from the AFCON final played in January 2026, when Senegal defeated hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time. The match was interrupted for 15 minutes after Senegalese players briefly walked off the field in protest over a late penalty awarded to Morocco.

In March 2026, CAF’s Appeal Board ruled that the walk-off breached tournament regulations, overturning the result and awarding Morocco a 3-0 forfeiture victory, handing the title to the hosts.

Senegal has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), arguing that the original result should stand.

Despite CAF’s ruling, the SFF has continued to publicly display the AFCON trophy, insisting that the final determination should rest with CAS.

With a coaching change, a growing dispute over the national team’s medical setup and an unresolved legal battle over the AFCON title, Senegalese football is facing one of its most turbulent periods in recent years, both on and off the field.