Senegal’s national football team held a farewell dinner ahead of its departure for the World Cup in the United States.
The event took place on the pitch at the Stade Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio, where players, coaches and members of the administrative team gathered for a final send-off before travelling to the tournament.
The dinner brought together the entire delegation in a show of support and unity as the Teranga Lions prepare to represent Senegal on the world stage.
Team officials said the gathering was organised to strengthen team spirit and foster togetherness among players and staff before the start of the competition.
Senegal had won the 2025 AFCON final on the pitch after defeating hosts Morocco 1-0 in extra time in Rabat on 18 January 2026, with Pape Gueye scoring the winning goal.
The match was overshadowed by controversy after Senegal’s players briefly walked off the field in protest over a late penalty awarded to Morocco.
Two months later, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeals Board ruled that Senegal’s walk-off amounted to a forfeiture under tournament regulations. CAF overturned the result, recorded the final as a 3-0 victory for Morocco and awarded the title to the hosts.
Senegal strongly rejected the decision, describing it as unfair and unprecedented, and announced plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The Senegalese Football Federation argues that the match resumed, was completed, and that the referee allowed play to continue before Senegal won in extra time.
The Teranga Lions now head to the World Cup seeking success after a turbulent period that saw Senegal’s AFCON triumph become the subject of a protracted dispute, with the players and coaching staff now focused on delivering results on the pitch and building on the country’s recent achievements in international football.
Faridah AbdulkadiriÂ
