AFCON 2025: Why Senegal refused to take a hotel in Rabat

Winner of the CAN 2025 on Sunday at the end of a final against Morocco (1-0 after extra time) that continues to be controversial, Senegal had seen their arrival in Rabat being somewhat hectic. After the episode of the crush at the Rabat station at the time of the arrival of the players by TGV from Tangier, the Senegalese Football Federation then refused the hotel initially assigned to the Lions by the CAF, before retreating to another hotel much more distant.

But if the FSF challenged the hotel, it is not because of possible nuisances or the fact that it was not up to standard, as rumor has been circulating. According to information from Sport News Africa, from a federal source, the first hotel did not have the capacity to accommodate the entire delegation. Indeed, 38 rooms were planned in total, while the players alone were already going to occupy 28. The remaining 10 rooms are not sufficient to accommodate the technical staff, as well as the stewards, the kitchen staff, or even security.

Which led the Senegalese authorities to look for another hotel capable of accommodating the entire delegation in the same place. Their choice then fell on the hotel Amphitrite, located in Skhirat, outside of Rabat.