Last Tuesday, during a significant event celebrating the U15 Lionceaux’s triumph at the African School Football Championship and the official flag presentation for the national U17 squad heading to the CAN U17 2026, both teams were honored with symbolic acknowledgments.

Following their recent championship win in Zimbabwe, the victorious U15 players each received a sum of 100,000 FCFA. This particular payment quickly sparked widespread curiosity and discussion regarding its purpose and nature.

Responding to the ensuing public debate, the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) issued an official communiqué this Thursday to provide essential clarifications. The football governing body emphasized that, in strict adherence to Confederation of African Football (CAF) regulations, direct cash bonuses for victory are not disbursed to players in this specific school-level competition.

The FSF further highlighted that the substantial overall prize of 300,000 dollars, awarded to the tournament winner, is not intended for individual distribution among players nor is it directly transferred to the Federation. Instead, this fund is meticulously managed by CAF and strategically allocated towards specific projects. These initiatives are jointly developed with Senegal’s Ministry of National Education and the FSF, focusing on key areas such as the procurement of vital sports equipment, the enhancement of football infrastructure, and the implementation of educational programs aimed at ensuring the long-term, sustainable growth of school football across Senegal.

Ultimately, the Federation clarified that the amount provided to the players was exclusively designated to cover their transportation expenses, ensuring their comfortable and secure return journeys to their respective families.