The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has alleged that the national team's doctor for the past nine years, Abderahmane Fediore, lacks the necessary qualifications for sports medicine and is trained as a gynecologist. This revelation has reportedly led to a loss of faith among players who are "not sufficiently reassured" about their medical support.
FSF president Abdoulaye Fall stated that he only recently discovered Fediore's academic background, which he deemed insufficient for accompanying athletes. "Our main doctor did not have the academic profile required to accompany our athletes," Fall said in a press conference. "Dr Fediore is a gynaecologist by training. That is something I discovered late."
Fall added that the federation sought additional medical expertise to reassure the squad, emphasizing that "health comes before everything."
The Senegalese Association of Sports Medicine has rejected these claims as "unfounded and defamatory." In a statement released on Monday, the association asserted that Fediore holds a specialist diploma in sports medicine and sports biology from Cheikh Anta Diop University's faculty of medicine and previously headed the physiotherapy department at Fann Hospital.
These claims emerge in the aftermath of Senegal's performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where their campaign concluded in the last 32. The team lost to Belgium 3-2 in extra time after conceding a two-goal lead in the final minutes of regulation.
Following their World Cup exit, Senegal also dismissed manager Pape Thiaw on July 11, 2026. Thiaw, who had been in charge since December 2024, oversaw the team's performance which included an opening group stage loss to France and Norway, followed by a significant 5-0 victory against Iran. The FSF cited a "thorough evaluation of the sporting results and prospects of the national team" as the reason for terminating Thiaw and his technical staff's functions.