The Senegalese federation sparks controversy over the specialization of the team's chief medical officer
Fédior is a gynecologist, as stated by Abdoulaye Fall, president of the Senegalese federation. The manager revealed that the players did not feel comfortable with him
The president of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), Abdoulaye Fall, revealed that the long-standing doctor of the men's national team, Abdourahmane Fédior, is a gynecologist by training, creating new controversy after the Teranga Lions' elimination from the 2026 World Cup.
"The head of our medical services does not have the necessary academic training to care for our athletes. Dr. Fédior is a gynecologist by profession," Fall declared this Monday at a press conference reviewing the World Cup, according to Senegalese media.
The federation president assured that he discovered this situation “late” and stated that some players “did not have full confidence” in the doctor.
"The players were not convinced enough to be accompanied by him. It was necessary to find a convincing experience so that they would be calm because health comes before everything," Fall added, quoted by local media SeneNews.
The doctor, “outraged”
Fédior, however, rejected the statements of the president of the Federation and stated that he felt “outraged” by what he described as “falsehoods” about his professional career.
“I obtained my diploma as a sports doctor in 2008. I was part of the first class of that training,” said the doctor, according to SeneNews.
The doctor admitted, however, that his first specialty was gynecology, but defended that he oriented his career towards sports medicine very early on and that he worked with clubs and national teams since the 1980s.
The Senegalese Association of Sports Medicine (ASMS) also came to Fédior's defense and expressed its “deep indignation” at Fall's statements.
In a statement reported this Tuesday by the public newspaper Le Soleil, the association stated that the doctor has a diploma of specialized studies in sports medicine and biology from the Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar.
The ASMS also highlighted that Fédior has been the head doctor of the senior national team since 2017, has participated in five African Cups and three World Cups, and serves as official doctor of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA.
According to Seneweb, Fédior does not rule out filing a defamation lawsuit against Fall, considering that his statements seriously damaged his credibility.
The controversy comes in the midst of a crisis for the Senegalese team after their elimination in the round of 32 of the World Cup against Belgium 3-2, after having wasted a two-goal lead.
The Federation has already dismissed coach Pape Thiaw, while Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye announced that he would not play for Senegal again as long as the current coaching staff remained in place.