Senegal's elimination from the World Cup sparked numerous controversies, prompting the Football Association's Secretary General to clarify the situation.

The "moment of truth" for the Senegalese national team has arrived. Hours after Papu Thio and his coaching staff were officially dismissed, Senegalese Football Federation Secretary General Abdoulaye Seydou Soou broke his silence with a lengthy interview with Senegalese national television (RTS).

At the 2026 World Cup, Senegal was eliminated in the Round of 16 by Belgium, amidst numerous behind-the-scenes controversies. Abdoulaye Saidou Soou, head of the national football association, responded to criticisms of the association, the coach's departure, and the selection of a new head coach for the "Lions of Teranga." Since the national team returned home, numerous reports have emerged regarding Senegal's disastrous World Cup performance. An investigation by *African Sports News* specifically pointed out that Papu Thio's contract was signed only hours before the first match, and that there were also issues of organizational chaos, disputes over the invitation of delegation members, excessive spending, and allegations of ticket resale.

Following this, the Senegalese Football Federation issued an official statement firmly denying the allegations, condemning it as a disinformation campaign, and announcing that it would file a defamation lawsuit. Faced with the escalating controversy, Abdoulaye Seydou Soou defended his conduct within the federation. "My authority is clearly defined by the federation's charter, and I also have another foundation: the trust of the federation president. Anything else, in my view, is nonsense. During the World Cup preparations and participation, no one could provide evidence to the executive committee that I had committed any wrongdoing. I am not the approver of expenditures, nor do I have final decision-making power—the only approver and decision-maker in the federation is the president; we are only responsible for implementing decisions. Even if I bear the slightest responsibility, I will proactively accept all consequences. I believe I have fulfilled my duties, and I can face the Senegalese people with my head held high. Admittedly, we are disappointed and as heartbroken as the Senegalese people, but if it is necessary to clarify responsibility, we will accept it openly."

Theo's defeat and the selection of the new head coach

The Secretary General then addressed the decision to terminate Papu Thio's term and the subsequent procedures for appointing a new head coach. "From the perspective of goal achievement and team talent, this World Cup campaign was a failure, that's obvious. We take responsibility for this, but it's a collective responsibility that cannot be shirked. We originally believed the team's potential and configuration were sufficient to at least reach the quarterfinals. From a competitive standpoint, this was a clear defeat that we must acknowledge. Besides collective responsibility, individual responsibility also needs to be clarified, which is exactly what the Executive Committee has done. There was indeed negligence at the head coach level, and this is a responsibility that must be borne. However, the head coach's contract issue is not entirely the responsibility of the Football Association, as the salary is paid by the state. After the Africa Cup of Nations, the Football Association began negotiations with the Minister of Sports, who promised to increase Thio's salary. Since February 26, 2026, the Football Association President has submitted a draft contract to Thio, but he disagreed with the salary amount and procedures. Disagreements on salary, bonuses, and special allowances have led to lengthy negotiations."

While acknowledging the defeat of the "Lions of Teranga," he detailed the reasons why the Executive Committee initiated the dismissal process and clarified the contract details of the former head coach. "The President has been authorized to conduct consultations, then collaborate with the Minister of Sports, to report to the Emergency Committee or the Executive Committee, and ultimately make the decision most beneficial to Senegal. Time is of the essence; we must expedite the process because the new coach's first task is to visit all the players, and we only have August available. The choice between a local or foreign coach has not yet been discussed, but Senegal can no longer afford to play a minor role in African or world football. If we want a competitive team, we must hire a high-level coach," he added.

Allegations of alcohol-fueled parties and sexual harassment

Abdoulaye Seydou Sou also responded to allegations regarding a series of incidents involving the delegation during their time in the United States, specifically confirming that the Football Association took preventative measures after receiving a report against a team member. “There was indeed an incident that could be classified as sexual harassment. When we received a concrete report, we had to take preventative measures. Should we wait for the American police to arrest our people before starting an investigation? Some customs in Senegal are completely different from those in the West: in Senegal, people can talk to women, joke, and pat them, considering it just a friendly gesture or joke, but in the United States, it would be seen as something entirely different. Our measure was to send the chef involved back to Senegal, which maintained the team's stability and unity, and also protected the country's image,” he continued. The Senegalese Football Association official denied allegations of a drinking party or logistical problems during the tournament, insisting that the association had never failed in its duties regarding player protection.

“Logistical support has never been a problem. While it might be difficult to get the same food as in Senegal, funds were always readily available whenever expenses were needed; there were no issues in that regard. The claim that the players had to find their own food due to poor conditions is completely false; it's a fabricated propaganda trap to create chaos. Of all the accusations, this one hurts me the most. I entered the administrative system in 1993 and have been involved with the association since 1987. I can say definitively that no one has ever seen me attend social parties, nor have they ever seen me with people who drink. I was a minister of the Republic; I have my own reputation and dignity. To say that the president of the Football Association attended alcohol-fueled parties is the most serious insult I have ever received.” This highly anticipated interview will likely fail to dispel the many doubts surrounding the “Lions of Teranga” after their disastrous performance at the 2026 World Cup.