u/illnesz

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World Cup 2026: Senegalese Team Cook Sent Back to Senegal for Alleged Harassment

Abdoulaye Saydou Sow, Secretary General of the Senegalese Football Federation, provided details on the incident that shook the "Lions of Teranga" camp during the 2026 World Cup in the United States. The case involves allegations of sexual harassment that prompted the Federation to take immediate action.

In statements given on Sunday to the Senegalese public broadcaster RTS, the official explained the reasons for repatriating the head cook of the Senegalese delegation to Dakar. The cook was implicated in an alleged case of sexual harassment targeting an employee.

According to Abdoulaye Saydou Sow, an employee recruited in the United States accused the cook of engaging in behavior amounting to sexual harassment. In response to these allegations, the Federation chose to act without delay.

He added that keeping the individual on U.S. soil could have led to intervention by American authorities. The decision to send him back to Senegal was therefore taken as a precautionary measure to preserve calm within the national team and prevent the matter from affecting the team's participation in the World Cup.

The Secretary General also emphasized that certain behaviors perceived in Senegal as mere jokes can, under U.S. legislation, be considered harassment. This is why the Federation chose to act with the utmost caution to avoid any potential legal or media consequences that could harm the image of the national team and the country.

At this stage, the Senegalese Football Federation has not issued any communiqué confirming the guilt of the person concerned or announcing any definitive sanctions against him.

For context, Senegal was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup in the round of 32 after a defeat against Belgium. In the last 24 hours, coach Pape Thiaw has also been relieved of his duties due to the tournament's results and internal tensions with several players.