The Minister of Sports, Khady Diène Gaye, spoke this Thursday at the Government’s press conference about the financial resources mobilized by the State of Senegal for the Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco.
According to the minister, the Senegalese government allocated a total of 5 billion 125 million CFA francs for the Lions’ participation in this AFCON, which ended with a historic continental title against the host nation. This budget is considered relatively modest compared to previous campaigns.
In fact, this budget represents a significant decrease compared to the amounts allocated during previous competitions, including those that ended in early eliminations. During the 2022 AFCON in Cameroon, which Senegal also won and marked its first continental title, state expenditures reached around 6 billion 500 million CFA francs. This level of spending was justified by the length of stay, logistical requirements, and the scale of the event.
A few months later, at the 2022 World Cup, the Lions were eliminated in the Round of 16, despite a budget exceeding 11 billion CFA francs. This campaign remains the most expensive for Senegal to date, despite an early exit before the quarter-finals.
More recently, during the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, where Senegal exited the competition in the Round of 16, expenses were estimated at nearly 7 billion CFA francs, a higher amount than what was spent during the victorious campaign in Morocco.
Thus, with a budget of 5 billion 125 million CFA francs, Senegal managed to win the AFCON in Morocco with financial means lower than those mobilized during its previous participations, including those that did not result in sporting success.
