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By Oscar Okhifo
It is set to be the battle of the lions. The Teranga Lions of Senegal will face the Atlas Lions of Morocco in Sunday’s AFCON 2025 final in Rabat, with the world watching to see which team will assert dominance on the continent’s biggest stage.
Amid the buildup, Senegal have formally submitted a series of complaints to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), citing concerns over training arrangements, ticket allocation, and security.
A senior official of the Senegalese delegation confirmed that the Teranga Lions declined to train at the Mohammed VI Football Complex over fears relating to privacy and security.
The official said the Moroccan team’s proximity to the facility made it possible for Senegal’s sessions to be monitored or recorded.
“Our concern is that the Moroccan team is based directly opposite the training facility. It makes it easy for our sessions to be monitored or recorded,” the official said.
The delegation has formally requested an alternative training venue, insisting the team must be allowed to prepare in an environment free from distractions ahead of the decisive encounter.
“At this stage of the competition, teams deserve equal conditions. We are simply asking for a neutral and secure place to train,” the official added.
Senegal have also raised objections over ticketing arrangements for the final. Officials said the team was allocated only two VVIP tickets and faced restrictions when attempting to purchase additional premium tickets.
“We were given just two VVIP tickets and were told we could not buy more. This is difficult to understand for a final of this magnitude,” a member of the delegation said.
Despite the limitations, Senegal reportedly secured 300 Category 1 tickets, 850 Category 2 tickets, and 1,700 Category 3 tickets.
However, officials maintained that the allocation falls short of accommodating the large number of Senegalese supporters currently in Morocco.
“Thousands of our supporters are already in Morocco. The ticket numbers do not reflect that reality,” the official said.
The Senegalese delegation also complained about security arrangements upon their arrival in Rabat, claiming players were exposed to fans and unnecessary distractions.
“The level of security on arrival was not what we expected. Players were too exposed, and that is not conducive to focus ahead of such an important match,” the official said.
CAF is expected to review the concerns and engage the relevant parties as anticipation builds for Sunday’s final, which promises a fiercely contested showdown between two of Africa’s football powerhouses.