Senegal’s World Cup campaign has taken an embarrassing turn off the pitch, with the national team left stranded in Seattle after their federation failed to secure return flights for the delegation to Dakar. 

The Lions of Teranga were eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Belgium in extra time, a result that ended their tournament on a painful note after they had led 2-0 before Belgium staged a late comeback.

Reports from Senegalese media indicate that no reservation had been registered for the team’s return journey, with no confirmed booking found under the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) with any of several airlines checked, including Blue Jet, Delta and United Airlines.

The oversight has left players, technical staff and officials waiting in the American city days after their World Cup elimination, with the federation yet to issue a detailed public explanation for the travel mishap.

The FSF is said to be working closely with FIFA to arrange a special flight and bring the delegation home as swiftly as possible, with hopes that the team could depart American soil in the coming days.

The episode has renewed scrutiny of the federation’s organisational capacity, coming barely weeks after it had to publicly clarify a separate viral incident involving security checks conducted on the team during their tournament preparations.

Beyond the logistical embarrassment, the World Cup exit has also exposed cracks within the squad itself, with midfielder Pape Gueye stating he would not return to the national team under the current coaching staff. What began as a promising campaign for Senegal has therefore ended not just in disappointment on the pitch, but in confusion and unresolved tension off it, leaving fans and officials alike to reckon with the fallout in the days ahead.

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