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Egypt have lodged an official complaint against Senegal in which they claim their team was subjected to racism and “terrorised” by home fans in Dakar.
Sadio Mane’s winning shootout penalty sealed Senegal’s World Cup place with his Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah among those to miss for Egypt.
Several visiting players were targeted by green laser pointers throughout the shootout, including Egypt captain Salah.
The Egypt team bus was also allegedly targeted, resulting in casualties.
The Egyptian Football Association [EFA] said in a statement that it had filed a formal complaint against its Senegalese counterpart before the event and that it had informed Fifa, the Confederation of African Football [CAF], the match observer, and the security official.
“After the erection of insulting banners in the stands aimed at the players, specifically Mohamed Salah,” the statement said, “the Egyptian team was subjected to racism.”
“Moreover, during the warm-up, Senegalese fans terrorized the Egyptian players by throwing bottles and stones at them, as well as attacking the Egyptian team bus, resulting in glass shattering and injuries, as shown by photographs and videos included in the complaint.”
On Instagram, the EFA posted photos of the damage to the team van, as well as photos of the insulting poster aimed at Salah.
Senegal overcame Egypt 1-0 in extra time to tie the game 1-1 on aggregate in the World Cup play-off match at Dakar’s new 50,000-seater Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade.
Six weeks after winning the Africa Cup of Nations final, the African champions defeated Egypt in a penalty shootout, winning 3-1 on penalties to book a berth in the Qatar tournament in November.
Green lasers could be seen beaming on Salah’s face as he walked up to take his penalty, and he shot his effort over the crossbar.
At full strength, the 29-year-old had to be escorted down the tunnel by security as fans hurled things from above.
Fifa’s disciplinary body is reviewing game reports before deciding on the next course of action.
Augustin Senghor, president of the Senegalese Federation and vice-president of CAF, said he would wait for official findings on the incidents.
“I didn’t pay heed to the objects fired from the stands,” Senghor stated. “As for the lasers, if they were used, it would be a first in Senegal.” However, we know that there were several of these in Cairo and that they are frequently employed in specific countries. That’s not something Senegal is used to.”
“I didn’t observe anything during this game that could be labeled chauvinism,” he continued, “since the Senegalese are renowned to be hospitable.”
Vincent Paul
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