It is an offensive president, far from the usual diplomatic language, who appeared before the press and the members of the federation. While Senegal is celebrating its title of African champion, Abdoulaye Fall wanted to reveal the obstacles encountered by the Senegalese delegation on Moroccan soil, directly targeting the organization of the AFCON 2025 and the influence of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
«A psychological war» upon arrival in Rabat
According to the president of the FSF, the difficulties would have started as soon as the qualification for the final. Abdoulaye Fall describes a series of logistical decisions intended, according to him, to destabilize the Lions who were going to face the host country. The first point of friction concerns accommodation in Rabat, imposed at the last minute.
«They called us a hotel name 24 hours before our departure for Rabat. But as soon as we saw the hotel, we knew that we couldn’t stay there (...) It’s a hotel located in the city center, where there is noise pollution.
Senegal’s refusal to accommodate in this establishment marked the beginning of an arm wrestle that extended to the training infrastructure. The FSF notably declined the offer to use the prestigious Mohammed VI Center, fearing a lack of confidentiality. « Once in, you have no more secrets. Everything you work on is known by your opponents »,
hammered the native of Bambey.
The influence of Fouzi Lekjaa and CAF pointed out
While calling the president of the FRMF, Fouzi Lekjaa, "friend," Abdoulaye Fall did not mince his words on the weight of Morocco within the governing body of African football. It describes a system where the host country would have almost complete control over CAF decisions.
« The other countries are afraid of Morocco. They are afraid to take a stand against Morocco. No country has ever been as opposed to Morocco as Senegal.”
The president of the FSF also criticized the management of the ticket office, stating that the Senegalese delegation had only received three official tickets for the final:
"Do you find this normal for a finalist team from the AFCON? Do you find it normal that everything returns to Morocco?
The arbitration of Jean-Jacques Ndala under fire from critics
The most sensitive chapter of this intervention concerns the arbitration of the Congolese Jean-Jacques Ndala. Abdoulaye Fall denounces a voluntary opacity on the part of the CAF technical commission regarding the identity of the referee, revealed only the day before the match at 10 p.m.
This late announcement would have prevented any official challenge procedure.
"Their justification was that they wanted to protect the referee (...) But in reality we understood everything,"
he said, revealing that a requisition letter had been sent to the CAF in the middle of the meeting.
Total support for Pape Thiaw
Despite this deleterious climate, the leader paid tribute to the resilience of his group and its coach, Pape Thiaw. He also revealed to have gone down on the pitch during moments of tension to ensure that the players do not give in to the temptation of abandonment.
For Abdoulaye Fall, the final victory of Senegal is as much a sporting performance as an administrative victory:
"Beyond sporting performances, we have very great leaders. It is the other force of Senegal.”
While the football world is now waiting for CAF sanctions following the incidents of the final, this media release risks permanently cooling relations between Dakar, Rabat and Cairo.
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À propos de l'auteur
Philemon MBALE
Rédacteur sportif
Passionné de sport depuis toujours, partage avec vous les dernières actualités et analyses du monde sportif.