World Cup 2026: What’s going on inside Senegal camp?

Players and staff are staying at the four-star Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in contrast to the five-star Fairmont Palace in Tangier, the luxury venue used during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

That, however, is not a major issue, especially as the hotel is located close to Senegal’s training base at Rutgers University.

There has been speculation about the quality of the food and claims it has not met the players’ expectations.

The team travelled with their own chef – the one who has been present at previous tournaments and who prepares the menus months in advance of training camps and competitions.

He remained with the squad until the second pre-World Cup friendly – Senegal played warm-up games against the USA in Charlotte and Saudi Arabia in San Antonio – before leaving for personal reasons.

He was replaced by another chef, and the players have no issue with the catering.

Instead, complaints have come from other members of the delegation – not players or coaching staff.

It is those people outside the core team structure – but staying at the hotel – who have sometimes gone out to order food elsewhere, disappointed that Senegalese food was not being served.

Some Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) officials have had family members travel, at their own expense but stay a short distance from the official hotel.

At times they have been in close proximity with the team, which has not been well received by everyone.

The families of the players are staying nearby in another hotel, with accommodation and breakfast paid for by the federation.

Players and staff were also said to be unhappy about unpaid bonuses.

These were finally paid by the government a few days ago.

“It’s true that there’s some malfunctions but, from the players’ side, the staff and the FA, we are focused on the game tomorrow and that’s the most important thing,” Thiaw said on Sunday.

Senegal, 17th in the world rankings, arrived at this tournament as one of Africa’s leading hopes, despite being stripped of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title – which could be regained on appeal.

Instead, they are playing catch-up after losing 3-1 to France and 3-2 to Norway.

“The players don’t need all this commotion,” former Senegal forward El Hadji Diouf told RTS Senegal., external