The Secretariat General of the Senegalese Football Federation has issued an official statement to clarify circumstances surrounding a viral social media video showing members of the Senegal national team undergoing security screening on an airport tarmac in the United States.
According to the Federation, the footage did not capture the team’s arrival in San Antonio, as widely speculated online, but rather a routine security procedure conducted prior to departure from Raleigh Airport on Sunday, June 7, 2026.
The Federation explained that, as part of the logistical arrangements for the delegation’s movement, the team bus transported players and staff directly from their hotel in Raleigh to the airport tarmac. This arrangement enabled the delegation to complete all necessary security and police checks beside the aircraft itself, without passing through the airport’s conventional terminal and boarding areas.
The Federation stressed that the procedure was organised primarily to optimise travel time and facilitate boarding onto the private charter flight bound for San Antonio.
The statement further emphasised that all security measures were carried out in full compliance with existing airport safety regulations and that no incidents were recorded during the process.
The Federation also confirmed that the private flight from Raleigh to San Antonio proceeded smoothly and that the entire Senegal delegation arrived safely and without difficulty.
The clarification comes amid widespread online discussion and speculation surrounding the circulated footage, prompting the Federation to address what it described as inaccurate interpretations of the events.