A proposed trip to Taiwan by Senegal's national soccer team hung in the balance yesterday, contingent upon its upcoming performance at the World Cup, sources said.
Among Taiwan's 28 diplomatic allies, three countries -- including Paraguay, Costa Rica and Senegal -- made it through the first round of the competition, now taking place in Japan and South Korea.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Senegal then made surprised many to reach the quarterfinals.
Although Taiwan has invited the three teams to visit Taipei after the World Cup, only Senegal gave its consent to the invitation, said Katharine Chang (
According to the plan, the Senegalese team was to reach Taipei on June 17.
The trip had to be deferred, however, after Senegal's success at the event, as the West African country reached the quarterfinals for the first time, said Chang.
"If Senegal wins the World Cup championship, the Senegalese will go home directly," a staffer at the Embassy of the Republic of Senegal told the Taipei Times.
Senegalese ambassador Adama Sarr was not available to talk when contacted by the Taipei Times.
The foreign ministry admitted the point, saying that if Senegal emerged as World Cup champion, the likelihood was that the team would head home to a heroes' welcome.
If Senegal's encounter with Turkey on Saturday fails, the team could arrive in Taipei on Sunday, Chang said.
But if Senegal beats Turkey to reach the semifinals and then the final, the date of their visit to Taipei would depend on the result of their matches, Chang added.
The Senegalese team reached Osaka, Japan yesterday and held a training session as they began their preparations for Saturday's match.
Chang said that if the Senegalese were to visit Taiwan, they would play exhibition games with Taiwan's national team.
The recent fever over the World Cup could also spill over into President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) 12-day trip -- starting June 28 -- to visit four of Taiwan's African allies, including Senegal, Sao Tome and Principe, Malawi and Swaziland.
Chen plans to bring with him about 360 hand-made, leather match balls as gifts to the countries, Chang said.
The Presidential Office last week said that Chen was planning to exchange some of his World Cup-watching experiences with Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade during his state visit to the country.
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