Senegal cites unfair treatment ahead of AFCON final
Senegal will face Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final, but the Lions of Teranga are not happy about preparations for the match, complaining to tournament authorities for a number of issues in the lead-up.
Senegal has complained that its treatment "raises a question of sporting fairness", with the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) highlighting issues with the team's security, transport, accommodation and training arrangements in a statement directed at the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Senegal is hoping to lift the AFCON trophy for the second time, after Sadio Mane's pinpoint finish guided it to a 1-0 victory over Egypt in the semi-finals last week.
But ahead of a showdown with the tournament host in Rabat, the team's management claimed its players' safety had been placed at risk and the training arrangements afforded to Senegal raised further questions.
The FSF alleged there was a "manifest absence of adequate security measures" when the Senegal team travelled to Rabat by train and claimed the team had to submit an appeal to CAF in order to receive adequate accommodation.
As well as describing the small allocation of tickets assigned to Senegal fans as "worrying", the statement read that forcing the Lions of Teranga to train at Morocco's base camp, the Mohammed VI Complex, risked undermining the integrity of the game.
The FSF concluded that tournament organisers should "take all immediate corrective measures to ensure compliance with the principles of fair play, equal treatment and safety, which are essential for the success of this celebration of African football".
