Jaraaf and Génération Foot left waiting for state subsidies ahead of CAF campaigns

With just days remaining before their opening fixtures in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, Senegalese clubs Jaraaf and Génération Foot are still awaiting clarity over financial subsidies previously granted to teams competing in continental tournaments.

The Ministry of Sports had announced in February that such subsidies would be suspended, leaving both clubs preparing for their campaigns under a cloud of uncertainty.

While training camps and administrative processes have been finalised, leaders of both Jaraaf and Génération Foot say the lack of government backing is creating significant challenges at a critical stage.

Pape Momar Lo, vice-president of Jaraaf, highlighted the situation in an interview with RFM, stressing that the club is struggling to cover its budget as it readies itself for its Champions League preliminary round match on 21 September in Dakar.

“It’s a bit difficult, which is why Génération Foot, like Jaraaf, asked the minister to postpone this measure so that we could close our current budget year,” Lo explained.

“The decision was announced in February when we were already in the middle of the sports season. Six months later, we are going to Africa. It is not possible for clubs to change their financial planning in the middle of a single season.”

Lo added that, despite financial obstacles, the team’s preparation has gone well. Training began on 11 August under coach Souleymane Diallo, with the full squad assembled before the end of the month.

He underlined that Jaraaf had also ensured all administrative requirements set by CAF were completed ahead of the August 30 registration deadline. “All our licences were registered in time, and only the most recent signings are still pending. We hope to regularise them during the next registration window,” he said.

The suspension of subsidies is not only affecting Jaraaf but also Génération Foot, Senegal’s representatives in the CAF Confederation Cup. Talla Fall, the club’s communications director, expressed similar concerns, saying the team remains in limbo just days before their opening match at the Lat Dior Stadium in Thiès.

“As for the grant, we are really waiting,” Fall admitted. “We don’t know what it will be. For now, we continue training, but nothing has been confirmed. I hope things will change this week, because we play our first game on Sunday. Like Jaraaf, we are in the same situation. To be honest, we haven’t received anything yet, and we’re still waiting for the authorities to give us a sign.”

The uncertainty has left both clubs balancing between their sporting responsibilities and financial constraints. While players and coaches continue to focus on performance on the pitch, officials remain preoccupied with the logistical burden of managing international competition without the state support on which they had previously relied.

For Senegalese football, the situation underscores broader questions about how clubs are expected to sustain themselves while representing the country at continental level.

Both Jaraaf and Génération Foot see their campaigns not only as a matter of sporting pride but also as an opportunity to strengthen the country’s standing in African interclub competitions.

However, without the subsidies traditionally granted, their ability to compete on equal terms with wealthier opponents remains in doubt.

As the countdown to kick-off continues, the message from both clubs is clear: while they remain committed to performing on the pitch, they are still waiting for answers off it.