The Lions of Teranga, playing their first two group games in the US, beginning against France on Tuesday in New Jersey, where they will also play Norway on June 22, have said they are ready to make a big impact despite US denying visas to Senegalese fans.
The secretary general of the Senegalese Football Federation has told AFP that he remains confident his team can make a big impact at this year’s World Cup, despite what he described as a “regrettable“ decision by US authorities to deny visas to Senegalese supporters.
Senegal is one of several countries participating at this year’s World Cup whose supporters have not been able to travel to follow their team due to the tight immigration restrictions imposed by co-hosts the United States.
“It is true that this World Cup is particularly difficult, but you know every country is a sovereign power and has its own rules,” Abdoulaye Sow told AFP at the Senegal team base, an hour south of Manhattan.
“The United States has its own laws and regulations and these laws mean that — unlike European countries for example — we are not able to benefit from the support of many Senegalese people, and many African people, who wanted to come.
“It is really regrettable. FIFA knew about all this. These are the laws of the United States and we have to respect them.”
This is Senegal’s fourth appearance at a World Cup, but it is the first time they have entered a tournament without an official fan group coming to back them at the government’s expense.
Pape Thiaw’s team must overcome that handicap as they aim to live up to their billing as dangerous outsiders in the competition.
The team’s best performance to date came in 2002, when they reached the quarter-finals. They reached the last 16 four years ago in Qatar.
“It is obvious that the African countries are impacted” by the visa restrictions, said Sow, whose nation are one of a record 10-strong contingent of teams from the continent at the expanded tournament.
“Senegal have been used to having the 12th man behind them. We will be denied that,” he added.
