The president of the Senegalese Football Federation, Abdoulaye Fall, announced the results of an internal audit that revealed shocking irregularities in the national team's medical staff, following the crisis of their exit from the 2026 World Cup.
Fall explained that the doctor who oversaw the health of the national team players for a full 10 years, Dr. Abdulrahman Fedor, specializes in obstetrics and gynecology, not in sports medicine, which raised questions about the way the medical file of professional players is managed.
The president of the Senegalese federation said that the review also revealed a lack of trust between the players and the doctor, due to doubts about the treatment and rehabilitation programs provided, noting that these problems were not seriously reviewed until their repercussions appeared during the World Cup.
The criticism was not limited to the medical aspect, as the Senegalese Federation revealed other problems related to the preparations, including the refusal to bear the costs of the national team's cook traveling to the United States during the World Cup, which prompted the players to rely on food delivery applications to obtain their daily meals.
These details sparked widespread criticism, given that teams participating in the World Cup need the highest levels of professionalism, especially with regard to nutrition and physical preparation during a tournament of this magnitude.
Early elimination and changes within the national team
The Senegalese national team ended its journey in the 2026 World Cup by exiting in the first knockout round after losing to Belgium 3-2, in a match that sparked criticism about the team's physical and technical performance.
Following the unexpected exit, the Senegalese Football Federation decided to dismiss coach Pape Thiaw, in an attempt to reorganize the team and launch a comprehensive investigation into the reasons for the team's decline, amid calls for widespread reforms within the "Lions of Teranga" system.
