Senegal FA Hits Back at Demba Ba Over Coach Criticism
Demba Ba’s recent explosive comments aimed at the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) and national team coach Alain Giresse have sparked a strong response from the country’s football leadership. Gaston Mbengue, a senior figure within Senegalese football and marketing manager of the FSF, has publicly defended the coach and dismissed Ba’s accusations.
Speaking to the newspaper Enquête, Mbengue condemned the Besiktas striker’s remarks, particularly his claim that Giresse is a “puppet” and not in charge of the team selection. The official expressed disappointment with Ba’s tone and drew comparisons to former national star El Hadji Diouf.
“Demba Ba has no right to speak about President Augustin Senghor like that,” Mbengue said. “He should remember El Hadji Diouf — someone who always delivered for Senegal, whether at home or abroad. Demba Ba is far from that level. Diouf made Senegal proud with his goals, even if he had his flaws off the pitch.”
The comments follow a growing rift between Ba and the national team setup, which deepened after the striker was left out of Senegal’s squad for the upcoming 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. Ba has publicly challenged the legitimacy of the selection process and questioned the coach’s authority.
Gaston Mbengue’s remarks signal a clear stance from the FSF: personal criticism of management, particularly in public, will not be tolerated. As for Ba’s future with the national team, his relationship with the federation appears to be at breaking point.
With the tournament just days away, Senegal will hope that off-field distractions won’t derail their campaign — though the fallout from this saga is far from over.
