Senegalese National Team Coaches Working Without Contracts, Ministry Vows Solution
In a surprising revelation that underscores deep administrative issues in Senegalese football, it has emerged that only two out of the ten coaches across the country’s national football teams currently hold formal contracts. The news was disclosed on Friday by Souleymane Boun Daouda Diop, the Director of High Competition (DHC), who was speaking on behalf of Minister of Sports, Mbagnick Ndiaye.
According to Diop, the only coaches with official, ministerially endorsed contracts are French head coach Alain Giresse and his assistant in charge of goalkeeping, Sidath Sarr. “Their contracts were validated five months ago,” he confirmed.
The remaining eight coaches are still operating under agreements dating back to previous administrations. “These contracts stem from the tenure of former Minister of Sports Mamadou Lamine Keita. Since then, successors—including Faustin Diatta, Abdoulaye Makhtar Diop, and Malick Gackou—failed to formalise the agreements,” Diop explained.
This bureaucratic delay has raised eyebrows, especially among local journalists who argue that “the state is continuity,” implying that previous administrative actions should remain valid until officially amended. However, Diop insists that under current legislation, contracts must be signed off by the sitting Minister of Sports to be legally binding.
Despite the irregularities, Diop assured the media that efforts are being made to rectify the situation. “In a week, we will hold discussions with all affected coaches in order to find a lasting solution,” he said.
Meanwhile, concerns also persist regarding the ongoing rehabilitation work at Dakar’s Léopold Sédar Senghor Stadium. With Senegal set to host Egypt on 5 September in a key Africa Cup of Nations 2015 qualifier, athletes have expressed doubts over whether the stadium will be ready in time.
Responding to these worries, the ministry’s secretary general reaffirmed that the venue will be delivered by mid-August. “A CAF inspection team will visit Dakar at the end of July to assess progress and ensure compliance with international standards,” he stated.
As Senegal pushes ahead with preparations for both the CAN qualifiers and the World Cup era under Giresse, the Ministry of Sports faces mounting pressure to restore order, beginning with securing the legal standing of its national team coaching staff.
