Senegal arrived at their fourth World Cup with ambitions of going further than in 2002, when they marked their tournament debut by reaching the quarter-finals.
The report indicates that senegal arrived at their fourth World Cup with ambitions of going further than in 2002, when they marked their tournament debut by reaching the quarter-finals.
It further notes that yet they are without a point after two games and in grave danger of exiting the competition at the first hurdle. They must beat Iraq on Friday to have any chance of making the knockout stage.
Senegal’s start to the World Cup has been overshadowed by a series of issues inside the camp.
Disputes over bonuses and payments, a late change of chef and complaints over food have dominated the build-up to the opening games.
And a row over manager Pape Thiaw’s contract has also led to concerns that off-pitch matters could affect the team on the field.
Players and staff are staying at the four-star Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in contrast to the five-star Fairmont Palace in Tangier, the luxury venue used during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
That, however, is not a major issue, especially as the hotel is located close to Senegal’s training base at Rutgers University.
There has been speculation about the quality of the food and claims it has not met the players’ expectations.
The team travelled with their own chef – the one who has been present at previous tournaments and who prepares the menus months in advance of training camps and competitions.
He remained with the squad until the second pre-World Cup friendly – Senegal played warm-up games against the USA in Charlotte and Saudi Arabia in San Antonio – before leaving for personal reasons.
He was replaced by another chef, and the players have no issue with the catering.
Instead, complaints have come from other members of the delegation – not players or coaching staff.
It is those people outside the core team structure – but staying at the hotel – who have sometimes gone out to order food elsewhere, disappointed that Senegalese food was not being served.
Some Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) officials have had family members travel, at their own expense but stay a short distance from the official hotel.
