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Rabat – Senegalese Football Federation President Abdoulaye Fall has sparked controversy after questioning the qualifications of the national team’s long-serving doctor following the Lions’ early departure from the 2026 World Cup.
During a press conference reviewing the problems surrounding Senegal’s campaign, Fall said he discovered only recently that Dr Abderahmane Fédior was originally trained in gynecology and obstetrics.
“Our main doctor did not have the academic profile required to accompany our athletes,” Fall said. “Dr Fédior is a gynecologist by training. That is something I discovered late, and the players were not convinced by him.”
Fall suggested that concerns over the doctor’s background contributed to his removal from the team’s bench during the tournament.
Sports medicine association rejects Fall’s claim
Hours after Fall’s comments, the Senegalese Association of Sports Medicine issued a statement strongly defending Fédior and describing the federation president’s claims as unfounded and defamatory.
The association said Fédior holds a specialist diploma in sports medicine and biology from Cheikh Anta Diop University’s Faculty of Medicine in Dakar.
That qualification directly challenges the suggestion that his academic background was limited to gynecology.
According to the association, Fédior has served as Senegal’s chief national-team doctor since 2017 and accompanied the Lions at five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and three World Cups.
The body also said he previously headed the physiotherapy department at Fann Hospital and worked with clubs and athletes in football, swimming, handball and cycling.
It added that Fédior has served as a medical officer for both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football, coordinating medical operations at several international matches.
The association demanded a public apology and said it reserved the right to take further action to protect the doctor’s reputation.
Debate over Senegal’s World Cup management
The dispute comes during a difficult period for Senegalese football following the national team’s dramatic World Cup elimination.
Senegal surrendered a 2-0 lead against Belgium before losing 3-2 after extra time in the round of 32. Belgium scored twice late in normal time before Youri Tielemans converted the winning penalty deep into extra time.
The defeat exposed internal divisions within the squad and increased scrutiny of the federation’s management, medical team and technical staff.
The federation subsequently ended head coach Pape Thiaw’s time in charge. The decision followed a tournament in which Senegal suffered defeats against France and Norway before their collapse against Belgium.
Fall’s press conference was intended to explain several decisions concerning the team’s organization and staff, but his comments about Fédior created a separate controversy.
