After their FIFA World Cup run came to an end, officials of the Senegalese Football Federation learned some new information.
Senegal managed to make it to the Round of 32 in the FIFA World Cup, losing in heartbreaking fashion to Colombia in a very close game.
The AFCON runners-up were considered one of the dark horses entering the tournament. But the team seem to have far bigger problems, given the new information that has come to light.
Senegal FA learned their team doctor is a gynaecologist, not a sports medicine expert
Speaking to reporters at a press conference in Dakar, the president of the Senegalese Football Federation, Abodulaye Fall, made a shocking revelation.
He revealed that he only learned recently that the team’s doctor was not an expert in sports medicine, but rather, a gynaecologist by practice, which led to the players losing faith in their ability.
“The other aspect is that, in fact, our regular doctor doesn’t have the academic background to support our athletes. And that’s something I only discovered late, because the doctor is a gynaecologist by training.
“I think, based on the feedback I received, the players weren’t convinced enough to be accompanied often. So, we needed to find a convincing expert to reassure them, because health comes first.”
If this is the case, then it cannot be considered anything other than a major misstep from the Senegalese FA, as they should have done their due diligence
Senegalese FA situation shows significant problem in African football’s growth
This incident has pointed out something that is a huge flaw, not just for the Senegalese FA, but for African football as a whole.
For years, there have been questions about the growth of football in Africa, especially considering the vast depth of talent that has come out of the region.
But even with that talent, Africa has struggled to make a huge mark on the global football stage over the last century.
Morocco’s miraculous run to the FIFA World Cup semi-final in 2022 was the first time an African nation reached that stage in history.
One has to imagine issues like Senegal had with their medical staff are not isolated incidents in African football, and things like this have played a part in their lack of success on the world stage.
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