Senegal from parallel universe – their WC doctor is gynecologist?

Following their exit from the World Cup and the subsequent sacking of their manager, the Senegalese national football team has found itself at the center of a bizarre administrative scandal regarding the credentials of its medical staff.

During a press conference, Abdoulaye Fall, the president of the Senegal Football Federation (FSF), stunned reporters by confirming that Dr. Abderahmane Fedior—who has looked after the squad's medical needs for nearly ten years—is actually a gynecologist and obstetrician rather than a specialist in sports medicine.

Fall took responsibility for the oversight, admitting, "Our team doctor doesn't have the academic background to support our athletes. This is something I discovered rather late, because Dr. Fedior is a gynecologist by training,"

According to Reuters, Fall acknowledged that Fedior lacked the specific expertise required to manage elite athletic conditioning, treatment, and rehabilitation at the international level. This mismatch in training reportedly left several players highly uncomfortable with receiving treatment from him. In an effort to resolve the issue, the federation has since integrated sports physician Dr. Jean-Marc Sene into the team's medical department.

However, the medical community quickly came to Fedior's defense. The Senegalese Association of Sports Medicine fiercely contested the president's allegations, calling them "unfounded and defamatory." The organization clarified that alongside his work in gynecology, Fedior also earned a specialized diploma in sports medicine from Cheikh Anta Diop University.

This medical dispute is just one facet of a broader administrative crisis that plagued the FSF during their 2026 World Cup campaign. Long-overdue player bonuses from AFCON 2025 and World Cup qualification matches remained unpaid for months, despite the federation already possessing the prize money.

Smart move or deepening the crisis? Senegal part ways with Thiaw

Meanwhile, head coach Pape Thiaw went five months without a paycheck or even a valid contract. Though Thiaw later noted that the dispute was "finally resolved" at a subsequent press briefing, he later emphasized the underlying frustration, telling ESPN: "It was never about money, it was a matter of principle and respect". Compounding these issues are reports that several high-ranking FSF officials used federation funds to sponsor trip expenses for their families and personal entourages to the United States.