Businesses Incur Losses over Senegal’s World Cup Exit

Senegal’s elimination in the Russia World Cup has left business people in Dakar counting huge losses.

Jersey sales have been the fastest growing trade in the local markets with industries taking advantage of the boom in the team’s support.

The sale of Senegal World Cup replica jerseys alone tripled few days before and during the World Cup with traders admitting to registering huge gains in the Teranga Lions first two games against Poland and Japan.

Photo: Frustrated Sadio Mane and Mabye Niang leaving after the loss

Price for a jersey was sold for 4,500 CFA before it got lowered to 250 CFA after the team’s defeat.

Capitalizing on the in-demand of vuvuzelas, caps and horns by fans, many sellers ordered for these goods twice than used to be their habit convinced that the Les Lions would reach at least the quarters or the semis.

However, they are now rendered desolate and on the verge of going out of business after Aliou Cisse and his men bit the dust to Colombia and Japan breezed through on yellow cards difference.

“It’s over for us. At first, it (sales) was really good because we had sold a lot which made us increase our stocks. But here we are sorry for ourselves. We’ll keep the rest hoping we’ll sell it to lovers of basketball or wrestling,” Coumba Diop, a petty trader says.

Photo: Supporters cut forlorn figures after the team’s exit

Moussa Faye at the Sandaga market says: “I do not even have the words to express myself; it’s a really hard blow. I sold the jerseys at 4500 CFA but, here, I will not hesitate to sell them off at 2500 or 2000 F CFA, if I see a customer.”

Mor Diop, sitting on his tool and looking over his goods, was the biggest to be hit. In the quest to score profits, he’d invested all he’d saved and is now heartbroken.

“I do not even know what to say. I invested all my money in this business,” he moaned.

Meanwhile, there is already talks of a rift amongst Senegalese players and the coach with one of the team’s stars reportedly considering quitting international football.

Senegal were the last of Africa’s representatives remaining in the competition after Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Nigeria headed home early