Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations celebrations have been eased by positive medical news after three members of the national team, who were forced to withdraw from the final against Morocco, left hospital and rejoined the squad ahead of their return home.
Krépin Diatta, Ousseynou Niang and Pape Matar Sarr all suffered dizziness during Sunday’s AFCON final in Rabat, an unusual sequence of events that disrupted Senegal’s preparations on one of the biggest nights in their football history.
The incidents unfolded at different moments but raised immediate concern among team staff and supporters.
According to information from Taggat, which has been confirmed, the three players are now recovering well.
Their conditions improved sufficiently for them to be discharged from hospital and return to the team hotel in Rabat, bringing relief to the Senegalese camp following an anxious evening.
The circumstances surrounding their withdrawals were striking. Diatta was removed from the starting line-up only minutes before kick-off after feeling unwell.
Niang collapsed during the warm-up on the pitch, prompting swift medical attention, while Sarr left the bench during the match after experiencing similar symptoms. Diatta and Sarr spent the night under medical observation, while Niang was released earlier.
Medical staff monitored the trio closely before approving their discharge. By Monday, all three players had rejoined their teammates, allowing the squad to regroup fully after an emotionally charged final that had already tested the team’s resilience.
The Senegalese Football Federation has not indicated any long-term concerns regarding the players’ health. Their recovery means they will travel with the rest of the delegation as planned.
The squad is scheduled to depart Rabat at 14:00 GMT on a special flight bound for Dakar, where a hero’s welcome awaits the newly crowned African champions.
Their inclusion in the returning delegation carries symbolic importance. The final against Morocco not only delivered another continental title for Senegal but also presented rare and unsettling challenges off the pitch.
The successful recovery of Diatta, Niang and Sarr brings closure to that episode and allows the focus to return fully to celebration.
As the Lions of Teranga prepare to land back home, the news that all players are fit enough to travel provides reassurance to supporters and underlines the unity within the squad.
Senegal’s historic triumph in Morocco will now be marked without lingering medical concerns, as the champions head back to Dakar together.
