The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) is actively working to address the challenge of finding a suitable venue for the official Lions matches counting towards the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The initial reluctance among Senegalese fans to have their national team play away matches has prompted efforts to make local stadiums operational.
Victor Ciss, the secretary general of the FSF, has shared that the Senegalese sports ministry is putting in considerable effort to make the Lat Dior stadium in Thiès ready to host Senegal’s next match in March 2013. Plans involve providing the stadium with natural grass to meet the necessary standards.
Ciss explained, “We thought that we should perhaps count on the Lat Dior stadium for the month of September, by providing it with natural grass, and look at the Demba Diop stadium to see if, by carrying out work there, we will be able to play the match of the month of March there (editor’s note Senegal-Angola).”
The Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, the only stadium in Senegal meeting international standards, has been suspended for a year following incidents that occurred during the Senegal-Ivory Coast match in October. In response to this situation, the Mauritanian football federation has expressed its willingness to offer its stadium to the Senegalese national team for hosting their visitors during the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. This development reflects the complexities and considerations involved in ensuring suitable venues for international football matches.
