Senegalese football legend El Hadji Diouf has revealed that he called former President Macky Sall during the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final between Senegal and Egypt to request that fans be allowed back into the stadium. The match, held on February 6, 2022, at the Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé, Cameroon, had a limited capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions after a deadly stampede earlier in the tournament.
Diouf, a two-time African Footballer of the Year, said he pleaded with Sall to intervene with Cameroonian authorities to permit more Senegalese supporters to enter the venue. 'I told him, 'Mr. President, we need our fans. Faites-les revenir sur le terrain' (Bring them back to the field),' Diouf recounted in an interview with a Senegalese media outlet.
The call reportedly took place during the match, which Senegal won 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw, securing their first AFCON title. Diouf's account has not been independently verified, and no official confirmation from the Senegalese presidency has been released.
The 2022 AFCON final was marred by the January 24 stampede at Olembe Stadium that killed eight people and injured dozens, leading to strict capacity limits for subsequent matches. Diouf's anecdote highlights the emotional intensity of the tournament and the role of football in Senegalese national pride.
