Senegal will go to the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations without four key reinforcements after their naturalisation procedures failed to be completed before the Confederation of African Football (CAF) registration deadline.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) confirmed that Mikaela Bottega, Mariama Deen Toure, Aminata Keita and Mady Soumare – all expected to strengthen the squad – have been left out of the final list because their paperwork was not finalised in time.
The 26-player squad, announced on Monday, will still represent the Teranga Lions’ ambitions at the continental showpiece, but the late administrative blow has undermined plans to bolster the team with new talent from the diaspora.
Naturalisation process misses CAF deadline
In a statement, the FSF explained that the four players’ naturalisation had not been completed by the cut-off point established by African football’s governing body.
« La procedure de naturalisation de ces quatre joueuses n’a pu etre finalisee avant la date limite fixee par la CAF pour la cloture de l’enregistrement des joueuses », explains the federation.
The quartet had been lined up to add depth and competition across the squad as Senegal prepare to face some of the continent’s strongest women’s teams in 2026.
However, CAF regulations require all eligibility and registration procedures to be completed by a fixed deadline, and those administrative steps were not concluded in time for Bottega, Toure, Keita and Soumare to be registered.
Four players told to wait for international debuts
For Mikaela Bottega, Mariama Deen Toure, Aminata Keita and Mady Soumare, the delay means a longer wait for their first appearance at a major tournament with Senegal.
All four had been widely anticipated by followers of the team and were seen as important additions both for the immediate campaign and for the long-term development of women’s football in the country.
Their absence from the final list has been met with disappointment among supporters, not least because the players were expected to “reinforce the team and push its ambitions” at the Women’s AFCON.
The situation underlines the growing trend of African federations looking to dual-national and foreign-based players to strengthen their squads, while also highlighting how crucial administrative planning and timing have become in modern international football.
Federation vows to complete process after tournament
Despite the setback, the FSF has moved to reassure fans and the players involved that it remains committed to finalising the process.
The federation says it will continue with the naturalisation steps so that Bottega, Toure, Keita and Soumare can be fully integrated into the Teranga Lions’ set-up once all procedures are complete.
The FSF “rassure de son engagement a poursuivre les demarches pour integrer ces joueuses dans la taniere des Lions, juste apres aboutissement des demarches,” underlining that the intention is for the quartet to become available for future international competitions.
As Senegal prepare for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with a 26-strong squad, attention will now turn to how the team adapts on the pitch – and how quickly the off-pitch paperwork can be resolved to ensure such a situation does not reoccur in future tournaments.
