Senegal's team physician responds to the president of the Football Association.

[caption id="attachment_1322463" align="alignnone" width="612"] BANDUNG, JAVA, INDONESIA - NOVEMBER 17: Amara Diouf of Senegal exits the field due to an injury during the Group D match between Senegal and Japan at the FIFA U-17 World Cup held at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium on November 17, 2023, in Bandung, Java, Indonesia. (Photo by Pakawich Damrongkiattisak - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)[/caption]Senegal's national team physician, Abdourahmane Fedior, has strongly refuted comments made by Football Federation President Abdoulaye Fall, who implied that the doctor was more suited to practicing gynecology than specializing in sports medicine. Fall's remarks came during a press conference evaluating Senegal's lackluster World Cup performance, which concluded with a heart-wrenching 3-2 extra-time loss to Belgium after relinquishing a 2-0 advantage. The federation president admitted he learned "too late" that Fedior was "trained as a gynecologist" and suggested that some players felt uncertain about the medical care provided. Fedior reacted with indignation, accusing Fall of perpetuating inaccuracies. "I was genuinely shocked by the statement from the president of the Senegalese Football Federation," Fedior asserted. "The inaccuracies he presented were truly surprising to me. When someone is unsure of their claims, they should first verify the facts." The doctor defended his credentials, noting that he earned his specialized diploma in sports medicine in 2008. "I received my medical degree, focusing on sports medicine, in 2008. We were part of the inaugural graduating class of this program," he remarked. Fedior also highlighted his considerable experience, having served as President of the Medical Commission of the Senegalese Cycling Federation and Head of the Medical Commission of the Senegalese Handball Federation. He has been the team doctor for Senegal since 2017, participating in three World Cups and five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. The Senegalese Association of Sports Medicine supported Fedior, labeling Fall's claims as "baseless and defamatory." The association confirmed that Fedior possesses a specialized diploma in sports medicine and sports biology from Cheikh Anta Diop University. This controversy adds to a pattern of administrative issues within the FSF, which recently saw the dismissal of head coach Pape Thiaw following the World Cup exit.