The decision by the national football coach of the Lions, Alain Giresse, to potentially choose Mali as the venue for the return match against the Elephants in the 2014 World Cup play-offs has sparked controversy. The Ramata Daou affair, involving a naturalized Senegalese player accompanying the Lionesses to Maputo, has complicated matters. The refusal of certain Malian authorities to see “their daughter” play for Senegal has led to fans expressing concerns about Mali being an unsuitable host country for the Lions.
Fans argue that the focus on a single player between the two countries indicates underlying tensions. The memories of the animosity displayed towards the Lions in Mali during the 2002 events are also cited, where it is said that El Hadji Diouf compared the Malian selection to the Corpo team of Senegalese Radio Television (RTS). Fans emphasize the need for Giresse to consider the broader political history of the countries involved.
The executive committee of the Senegalese football federation plans to make a decision on the issue no later than September 24, considering alternative options such as Mali, Gambia, and Morocco for hosting the Lions. The first leg, scheduled in Abidjan around October 15, is yet to be played.
