Three months ago no-one wanted to play them, but now their World Cup exploits have lifted Senegal so high they feel able to turn down mighty Brazil.

The World Champions' offer of a friendly game on August 21st has been passed up by the Senegalese Football Federation, Senegalese daily Le Soleil reports in its Thursday edition.

Prior to the World Cup, Senegal was unable to find sparring partners of any real quality, as a flood of high profile friendlies were mooted before collapsing ignominiously.

After their march to the World Cup quarterfinals, the Lions are in considerably more demand, but the FSF did not reply in time to the Brazilian offer.

Celebrations

The Brazilians had invited the Lions "as part of the celebrations for the victory in the World Cup," but have now decided to find other opponents.

According to Le Soleil, the Brazilian representatives "met a striking lack of enthusiasm, and received responses that were as evasive as they were impertinent."

FSF representatives claimed it would be difficult to get players released from their clubs, and added that Senegal did not have a coach following Bruno Metsu's departure.

However, August 21st is a date set aside by Fifa for international friendlies (France take on Tunisia on that day) and Metsu's assistants Abdoulaye Sarr and Jules-Francois Bocande have been appointed in his place.

Weaknesses

The real reasons for the FSF's refusal remain unclear, but without doubt it is the players - and the prestige of Senegalese football - that has taken a real blow.

Le Soleil, the government daily, delivers a damning verdict.

"How long will the Lions be able to hide the weaknesses and the incoherence of Senegalese football?" the paper blasts.

"What is for sure is that they do not have the Federation they deserve."