Senegal Football Federation (FSF) president Abdoulaye Fall revealed that the national team's chief medical officer of nine years was primarily trained as a gynaecologist, sparking concern among players over the level of specialised sports medicine available to the team.
According to Fall, the issue came to light late in the World Cup campaign, forcing the federation to seek external medical consultants to restore confidence within the squad.
The FSF president said feedback from players indicated that they were not sufficiently reassured by the medical support available to them.
"We had to quickly find outside expertise capable of convincing the players and guaranteeing their peace of mind because health must always take priority," Fall reportedly said.
However, the Senegalese Association of Sports Medicine has strongly rejected the federation's claims, describing the allegations as unfounded and defamatory.
The association defended the team's doctor, Abderahmane Fediore, insisting that he is a highly qualified medical practitioner with specialised training in sports medicine.
According to the association, Fediore holds a specialist diploma in sports medicine and sports biology from the Faculty of Medicine at Cheikh Anta Diop University.
It also noted that he has an extensive history within Senegal's sports system, having previously headed the physiotherapy department at Fann Hospital.
Fediore has served as Senegal's official team doctor since 2017 and has accompanied the national side to three FIFA World Cups and five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments without any previous controversy.
The medical dispute has added to an already turbulent period for Senegalese football.
Just days earlier, the federation dismissed head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw and his entire technical staff following the team's disappointing performances in North America.
The 45-year-old manager, who had been in charge since 2024, was relieved of his duties after an assessment by the federation's executive committee, which reportedly concluded that immediate changes were necessary to safeguard the future of the national team.
The Teranga Lions entered the World Cup as one of Africa's leading contenders after winning the Africa Cup of Nations in January by defeating Morocco in the final.
However, their campaign unravelled quickly after opening defeats to France and Norway in Group I.
Although Senegal recovered to beat Iraq and progress to the knockout stage, their tournament ended in dramatic fashion in the Round of 32.
The West Africans squandered a 2-0 lead against Belgium in the closing minutes of normal time before eventually suffering a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat after extra time.
The latest developments have plunged Senegalese football into uncertainty, with both the federation's leadership and the national team's structure now facing increased scrutiny following the disappointing World Cup campaign.
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