The State of Senegal, represented by the Ministry of Sports and Community Life and the Senegalese Football Federation, held a meeting to discuss the disappointing 3-1 defeat of the national team against Ivory Coast in the first leg of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. Souleymane Boune Daouda Diop, the Director of Senegal’s high competition, stated that while the state recognizes that football matches can have three results—victory, defeat, or a draw—the manner of the defeat against Ivory Coast was disappointing for everyone involved. The authorities expressed the desire for a more conquering and enterprising team in the return match on November 16, with preparations, including budget allocation, already in progress. The defeat in the first leg cost the Senegalese taxpayer 165 million FCFA.
