Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw has called on Africa Cup of Nations hosts Morocco to safeguard the tournament’s global image and avoid actions that could undermine continental unity ahead of the final.
The build-up to the title decider has been overshadowed by controversy, with the Senegal Football Federation issuing a strongly worded statement on Friday night raising what it described as “serious concerns” over how the team’s delegation had been treated.
The federation cited alleged irregularities in logistics, training facilities, accommodation and ticketing arrangements.
Tensions escalated after footage emerged of Senegal’s players arriving in Rabat alongside the general public at the Agdal train station, following their semi-final victory over Egypt.
According to Senegal officials, there was no security presence or official reception in place upon the team’s arrival in the capital.
Speaking to ESPN on Saturday, Thiaw warned against allowing the pressures of competition to overshadow broader responsibilities.
“The stakes in football shouldn’t lead us to do certain things. This Sunday should belong to all of Africa,” he said. “This was once a competition that few people watched, but now it has grown in stature. We should not destroy that.”
He stressed that proper organisation was central to protecting players and enhancing the tournament’s reputation.
“It is not acceptable that a team like Senegal arrives mixed with the general public from Tanger. Anything could have happened. If someone with bad intentions was there, it could have been dangerous. This should never happen, especially between two countries that consider themselves brothers,” Thiaw added.
The Senegal coach also argued that organisational shortcomings continue to harm the international perception of the Africa Cup of Nations, with consequences for African players on the global stage.
“There are players who missed out on the Ballon d’Or because of AFCON, because it is not always seen as a major competition,” he said. “They deserved it, but the competition was not valued highly enough.”
Despite his criticism, Thiaw acknowledged the progress made by the hosts during the tournament.
“Up to now, the organisation has been beautiful and people around the world are talking about it. Morocco has raised the level of AFCON, and I hope that continues,” he said. “But what happened yesterday should not happen. It affects the image of Africa we show to the world.”
Thiaw concluded by urging calm and focus ahead of the final.
“I am not speaking only as the Senegal coach, but as an African. We want to focus on the final and bring the trophy home,” he said. “As we say back home, everything has its time.”
