pole tourniquet: Senegal football in crisis ahead of Nations Cup

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Senegal football in crisis ahead of Nations Cup

Published: 22 Dec 2011 - 22:16:51

The Senegelese Football Federation (FSF) and the government Sports ministry are embroiled in a bitter dispute which is jeopardising the country's preparation's for next month's Africa Cup of Nations.

The FSF has broken off contact with the ministry in a row over national team coach Amara Traore's contract, local media reported Thursday.

As a result the publication of Senegal's 22-player squad for the January 21-February 14 Nations Cup has been delayed, and two Nations Cup warm-ups this month against Sudan and Tunisia have been cancelled.

The dispute centres on Traore's contract, which ran out on December 15.

Traore has demanded an increase to his 9,000 euros salary but the Sports Minister is refusing his request.

The FSF has also labelled as derisory the government's 152,000 euro grant to prepare the Senegal team for the Nations Cup which is being co-hosted by Equitorial Guinea and Gabon.

FSF president Augustin Senghor told the APS national agency: "If we don't compete in this Nations Cup all the world should know that it wasn't the fault of the Federation."

Senegal are drawn in Group A with Equitorial Guiena, Libya and Zambia.