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Rabat – Every team seeks a strong presence through football performances during the World Cup. However, imagine a team making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Several reports indicate alleged brewing tensions within the Senegal camp during the World Cup. Some reports state that Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has been operating without a formal contract for several months.
The Senegalese team is also reportedly ordering food from outside, as players continue to complain about what they describe as the “poor quality” of meals provided during the competition. Adding to the situation, the team reportedly traveled to the tournament without an official chef.
This comes months after a long list of complaints made by the Senegalese coach and the Senegal Football Federation against Morocco during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), held between December 2025 and January 2026.
While the Confederation of African Football (CAF) itself described the tournament and its organization in Morocco as the best in the competition’s history, Senegal raised several concerns, criticizing the host nation on multiple aspects, including what they claimed was a lack of security to protect their players.
However, upon their arrival in the United States, the Senegalese team and coach Thiaw were surprised by several procedures and protocols, including strict airport searches, minimal security presence, and other organizational uncertainties.
Inside the gap
Sport News Africa reported on Friday that drastic cost-cutting measures have been imposed on the accompanying staff, leaving the team without a chef.
“This absence is directly felt at the table of the Lions. Faced with hotel catering considered mediocre and ill-suited to the demands of top-level sport, we have learned that some players regularly order food from outside to be able to eat properly,” the news report said.
The news outlet also acknowledged serious shortcomings compared to the preparation and management seen during the AFCON.
The report highlighted deficiencies, stating that while some players are enduring poor conditions, some members of the Senegalese Football Federation are “living lavishly.”
“The latter have brought their families and personal entourages en masse to the United States, forming a large and costly delegation… entirely at the expense of the FSF. Special privileges and perks reminiscent of the management style of the previous federation office during the 2018 World Cup in Russia,” the report added.
In addition to no official contract, the report indicated that coach Thiaw is also without a salary for five months.
“His contract had expired, and the situation has not progressed one bit. Despite a solemn guarantee from the President of Senegal, who sought to be reassuring on this matter, the federation is, as far as we know, still refusing to sign his new contract,” the report added.
The uncertainties came just months after serious complaints that Thiaw made, as well as his controversial decisions — including triggering chaotic scenes during the AFCON against Morocco as well as his team’s walk-off from the final.
Thiaw’s decision to make his team withdraw from the pitch sparked hooliganism from Senegalese fans, who attempted to storm the pitch and also attacked security guards in the stadium, vandalizing the facility’s equipment.
In response, CAF decided to declare Morocco the winner by forfeit in March, applying the tournament’s regulations, which the Senegalese team breached.
Senegal challenged CAF’s decision and asked CAS to intervene.
Morocco, however, is determined, and its dossier is strong and backed with documented facts, including Senegal’s walk-off.
Morocco’s AFCON
Morocco Football Federation President Fouzi Lekjaa said in a recent interview with Al Jazeera that Senegal never complained about anything before the AFCON final.
“On the contrary, their federation president even said the stadium was world-class, and everything was perfect,” Lekjaa said.
Lekjaa said the Senegalese federation issued a communiqué in which they announced their team would arrive in Rabat at a certain time, which triggered fans to come and cheer for them.
This led to fans surrounding the team, with the Senegalese federation claiming there was a lack of security to protect their team.
Morocco, however, has launched a strong campaign strengthening security protection around all stadiums and host cities to ensure protection for both teams and fans.
Lekjaa said Morocco’s security does not need praise, as the country already has a strong reputation among international partners who recognize its strengths.
He also paid tribute to Moroccan fans who showed wisdom, especially during the final against Senegal.
Lekjaa emphasized that Senegal also complained about their hotel, which was in fact assigned to them by CAF.
“We changed it for them. The third issue was that they refused to train with the Moroccan national team,” he added.
