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Senegal blames Morocco for 'security lapse' ahead of Afcon final
Senegal's Sadio Mane celebrates his goal against Egypt in a semi final match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations at the Tangier Grand Stadium, Tangier, Morocco on January 14, 2026.
What you need to know:
- The players had no security escort as they got off the train after a 90-minute trip on Friday from Tangier.
- Senegal Football Federation also condemned the standard of their accommodation and training facilities.
Tensions mounted on the eve of the Africa Cup of Nations final as Senegal's coach Pape Bouna Thiaw criticised a lack of security for his players when they arrived in Rabat ahead of Sunday’s decider and were mobbed at the city’s train station.
The players had no security escort as they got off the train after a 90-minute trip on Friday from Tangier, where they had been based through their first six games of the tournament.
His remarks at the pre-match press conference on Saturday prompted one local journalist to try to defend Morocco’s organisers, drawing howls of protest from Senegalese counterparts.
Earlier on Saturday, the Senegal Football Federation issued a statement condemning not only the lack of security on arrival in Rabat but also the standard of their accommodation and training facilities ahead of the final against the host nation.
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw during a press conference at the main media centre in Rabat, Morocco on January 17, 2026.
"Today, Africa's image is at stake. Our competition, which no one used to watch, is now very prestigious. We mustn't squander that,” Thiaw said on Saturday.
"So far, the organisation has been excellent, and a big thank you to Morocco. But we all witnessed what happened yesterday.
"A well-organised event needs to be properly finished; it's important. What happened yesterday was unacceptable. A team like Senegal, getting off the train, is left facing a crowd like that; the players were in danger,” he added.
The Confederation of African Football did not immediately respond when approached for comment.
