Heartbreaking blow: Mariama Deen Touré reacts to WAFCON 2026 omission

Senegal international Mariama Deen Touré has spoken of her disappointment after being left out of the country’s final squad for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations because of administrative issues.

The FC Nantes player was among four footballers who were unable to take part in the tournament despite participating in the team’s preparations.

Following confirmation of her omission, Touré shared an emotional message on social media, describing the decision as a painful setback while pledging her continued support for the Lionesses of Teranga.

Administrative issues end tournament hopes

Touré was excluded from Senegal’s final squad alongside Mikaela Bottega, Aminata Keita and Mady Soumaré.

According to the information provided, the quartet missed out after the processing of their naturalisation documents was not completed before the deadline established by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for player registration through its Competition Management System (CMS).

Although the players had been involved in the national team’s preparations, the outstanding administrative procedures meant they could not be included in the final list submitted for the tournament in Morocco.

The development ended Touré’s hopes of representing Senegal at one of the biggest competitions in African women’s football.

Touré shares emotional message

In a statement published on her Instagram account, the FC Nantes midfielder expressed both her disappointment and determination to move forward.

“There are times when you realize that everything doesn’t depend on your hard work, your dedication, or your will. Like several other players, I unfortunately won’t be able to participate in the 2026 AFCON due to administrative issues.”

She continued by explaining how much the opportunity to represent Senegal meant to her.

“It’s a huge disappointment, because representing Senegal is an honor I take great pride in. I was looking forward to defending these colors alongside my teammates. Despite this setback, I remain positive.”

Her message reflected both the emotional impact of missing the tournament and her determination not to allow the disappointment to define her future.

Looking ahead despite disappointment

Despite missing out on the competition, Touré said she viewed the situation as another challenge in her football journey rather than the end of her ambitions.

She expressed confidence that the setback would help her grow and insisted she would continue working towards future opportunities with the national team.

“Every difficulty is an opportunity to grow, and I am convinced that this is just a setback in my journey.”

The midfielder also made it clear that her absence would not lessen her commitment to the Lionesses.

Support for the Lionesses

Touré concluded her message by encouraging her teammates ahead of the tournament and promising to support them throughout the competition.

“Above all, I want to offer my full support to the team. I will be behind you from start to finish. Make us dream, be proud to wear this jersey, and give your all on the pitch.”

She ended with a message of resilience and optimism.

“This is just a temporary setback. The work continues, heads held high and eyes fixed on the future.”

Although she will not feature in Morocco, Touré’s message underlined her continued commitment to Senegal and her belief that the disappointment represents only a temporary obstacle in her international career.