Senegal's national team doctor, Abdourahmane Fedior, has hit back at claims made by Football Federation President Abdoulaye Fall, who suggested the medic was better qualified as a gynaecologist than a sports medicine expert.
Fall made the remarks during a press conference reviewing Senegal's disappointing World Cup campaign, which ended with a dramatic 3-2 extra-time defeat to Belgium in the round of 32 after throwing away a 2-0 lead.
The federation president admitted he had discovered "late" that Fedior was "a gynaecologist by training" and claimed some players lacked confidence in the medical support available.
Fedior responded with outrage, accusing Fall of spreading falsehoods.
"I was truly outraged by the statement of the president of the Senegalese Football Federation," Fedior said.
"All the falsehoods he put forward deeply surprised me. When a person is not sure of what they are saying, they should first go and find out for themselves."
The doctor defended his qualifications, revealing he obtained his specialist diploma in sports medicine in 2008.
"I obtained my medical degree, specialising in sports medicine, in 2008. We were part of the very first graduating class of this program," he stated.
Fedior also detailed his extensive experience, haprogramme,"ed 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 Senegal's team doctor since 2017, attending three World Cups and five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
The Senegalese Association of Sports Medicine backed Fedior, dismissing Fall's allegations as "unfounded and defamatory". The association confirmed Fedior holds a specialist diploma in sports medicine and sports biology from Cheikh Anta Diop University.
The controversy is the latest in a series of administrative dysfunctions within the FSF, following the sacking of head coach Pape Thiaw after the World Cup exit.
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