Drama reigns over Senegal national football team doctor qualifications

A controversy has broken out in Senegal after Football Federation president Abdoulaye Fall questioned whether national team doctor Abdourahman Fedior was qualified to serve a World Cup squad because he was originally trained as a gynecologist.

Fall’s remarks drew an immediate response from Fedior, who rejected the claims and said he later obtained qualifications in sports medicine and sports biology. He added that he has been serving as Senegal’s national team doctor since 2017.

Meanwhile, the Senegal Sports Medicine Association also came to Fedior’s defence, describing Fall’s comments as “unfounded and defamatory.”

The association said Fedior possesses the necessary expertise to work with elite athletes.

The dispute has added to growing tensions within Senegal’s football following the team’s disappointing World Cup campaign.

The controversy comes just days after head coach Pape Thiaw was dismissed following Senegal’s 3-2 defeat to Belgium, a result that ended the team’s World Cup hopes.