Crisis: Diambars and Teungueth FC risk forfeiting CAF matches without stadium

Senegalese clubs face race against time to secure approved venues for return legs

Diambars and Teungueth FC are at risk of forfeiting their CAF matches after failing to secure stadiums to host their respective return legs in Senegal.

Both clubs played their opening matches away from home and are now expected to welcome their opponents on Senegalese soil.

However, with only days remaining before those fixtures, neither side has a confirmed venue.

The problem stems from the closure of the Léopold Sédar Senghor Stadium, which had initially been selected to host both matches.

The stadium will remain unavailable until 25 September, with the Ministry of Sports instructing that it should not be used before the Senegal national team’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Mozambique on that date.

That decision has left the two Senegalese clubs searching for an alternative at short notice.

Léopold Sédar Senghor Stadium unavailable

A meeting was held on Tuesday, 8 September, involving the Senegalese Football Federation, the clubs and other stakeholders in an attempt to resolve the stadium issue.

However, the management of the Léopold Sédar Senghor Stadium, despite being invited, was not present at the meeting.

With the national stadium unavailable, attention has turned to other grounds in the country, but finding a suitable alternative has proved difficult.

The Lat-Dior Stadium in Thiès is one possible option, having hosted several African club competition matches in recent seasons.

However, its current condition presents another obstacle.

The stadium is described as being in an advanced state of disrepair and is also being used by the West African Football Union’s regional body, WAFU-A, for qualifying matches for the 2027 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Me Abdoulaye Wade Stadium also unavailable

Another major venue, the Me Abdoulaye Wade Stadium, is also set to become unavailable.

The stadium is due to close its doors on Wednesday, 9 September, after hosting matches from the first day of Group B of the UFOA tournament.

That further reduces the number of options available to Diambars and Teungueth FC as they attempt to meet CAF requirements.

Clubs waiting for a solution

Both Senegalese representatives are now closely monitoring the situation as they wait for a venue to be identified.

The clubs must find an approved stadium quickly or face the possibility of losing their respective matches without playing them.

For Diambars, the situation is particularly pressing because their return match is scheduled for Saturday, 12 September.

They go into that fixture trailing 3-1 after losing the first leg against Espérance Sportive de Zarzis in Tunisia.

Teungueth FC are due to play their second leg on Sunday, 13 September after securing a convincing victory against Catchungo in Bissau in the opening match.

The contrasting first-leg results mean both clubs have important matches ahead, but neither currently has a confirmed home venue.

Time running out for Senegalese representatives

The urgency extends beyond simply finding a ground.

The clubs must also provide their opponents with information about the venue sufficiently in advance of the matches.

With the return legs approaching rapidly, the available time to resolve the issue is becoming increasingly limited.

Diambars and Teungueth FC therefore face an immediate administrative and sporting challenge.

Failure to secure suitable stadiums could deprive both teams of the opportunity to play their home legs, turning an already difficult situation into a major setback for Senegalese football.

The problem also comes at a sensitive time for the country, with the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games approaching in the coming weeks.

Senegalese football facing a difficult situation

For now, the two clubs remain on alert while efforts continue to identify a solution.

The Léopold Sédar Senghor Stadium cannot be used before 25 September, while the Lat-Dior and Me Abdoulaye Wade stadiums are also unavailable for different reasons.

With the return fixtures only days away, finding an approved venue has become the priority.

Without one, Diambars and Teungueth FC could face the loss of their CAF home matches, creating a serious sporting and administrative problem for Senegal.