Senegal: Mady Touré’s coalition withdraws from football federation elections, citing electoral irregularities

Mady Touré’s MT2025 coalition has officially withdrawn from the second round of the Senegalese Football Federation’s presidential elections, citing serious concerns over the integrity of the voting process and pledging to file legal appeals.

The announcement came on Monday, August 4, in a formal statement issued just a day after the first round of voting took place at the Abdou Diouf International Conference Centre (CICAD).

Touré, who finished second in the initial round, stated that the coalition would no longer participate in the ongoing election due to what it described as attempts to manipulate the outcome.

According to the statement, the decision followed reports from several clubs, which alerted the coalition to suspected efforts aimed at influencing votes through unethical means.

The MT2025 group said this information suggested attempts at “conscience-buying” that could have impacted the fairness of the process.

“These serious irregularities were brought to the attention of the electoral commission, as well as observers from FIFA and CAF,” the statement noted.

In response to these developments, the MT2025 coalition opted to suspend its participation in the second round, framing the move as a stand for transparency and ethical governance in Senegalese football.

“Faced with these grave shortcomings, and in line with its core principles of ethics and transparency, the MT2025 coalition has formally decided not to take part in the remainder of the electoral process,” the statement declared.

Despite the withdrawal, the electoral committee continued the process as planned and proceeded to announce the final results. However, Touré confirmed that the coalition is preparing to file a formal appeal in the coming days.

The aim, according to the statement, is to shed full light on the circumstances surrounding the vote and ensure accountability.

“In line with its commitment to a fair and equitable football environment in Senegal, MT2025 will take all necessary steps, including legal action,” the coalition affirmed.

The decision to exit the race has added a dramatic twist to what was already a tense and closely-watched electoral process. With international observers from FIFA and CAF on site, the upcoming legal appeal could prompt wider scrutiny of the election’s legitimacy.

For now, the spotlight remains on the MT2025 coalition’s next steps and whether its appeal will influence the perception—or the outcome—of the recently concluded vote.

The situation may also set a precedent for how electoral disputes are handled in future federation elections across the continent.

Touré’s withdrawal not only highlights growing concerns about governance within Senegalese football but also places mounting pressure on the national and international bodies involved to ensure transparency and restore public trust in the federation’s leadership process.