Khary Diène Gaye outlined the challenges that await sport in the year 2025. Invited on the set of 2Stv, the Minister of Sports provided answers to numerous questions that agitate in Football, Basketball, horse racing and the arts martial arts. Just like the preparation for the next Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Dakar 2026 to which Senegal will pay particular attention. So many projects that her department, she will argue, intends to take on head on.
Martial arts: “a national dojo is a priority”
“We noticed that the national dojo has already been demolished. It is a dojo which was part of the historical heritage of Senegal. In our priority and sectoral programs, we had not included the construction of a national dojo. Instead, the emphasis was placed on local infrastructure at the municipal level. This involves, with the support of mayors, having municipal dojos. But, it must be headed by a national dojo. But we take note because it is a complaint of many judokas. I personally deplored the disappearance of this dojo. A national dojo is a priority.
“There is a lot of tension in martial arts”
“I appeal to all martial arts actors to unite. There is a lot of tension. It is human to have differences but efforts and energies are scattered, the State is forced to have several interlocutors. A few weeks ago, I received a delegation from the CNP of Viet vo dao and other associations. I asked them to unite and try during the year 2025 to initiate a procedure to establish a federation, a unified structure. This will allow us to have a single contact and make our interventions more effective. We have seen that there are many problems in Karate. There were complaints at the level of Ofnac and the public prosecutor’s office. There is a procedure underway. When the courts are seized, I wait and when there is a final decision, we do not hesitate to apply the necessary regulations and in a very rigorous manner.”
Horse racing must be supervised
“We noted that most sports infrastructures were concentrated in Dakar. There is an entire economy that revolves around horse racing. There is the groom, the farrier, the jockey…. All this must be regulated. At the sports department level, we have a human resources training program. There is also an implementation strategy each year. This year, there is a work plan to see which training plan to target. Federations and groups must send their needs to the Ministry of Sports. They are delegated public missions.”
“A real pleasure to see all these national selections qualify for the different competitions”
“. It’s a real pleasure to see all these national selections qualify for the different competitions. I start with the African Cup in Morocco 2025. I pray that the trophy returns inshallah to Senegal as well as all the other national teams, especially women’s teams. Indeed, football, sport in general, has always been supported by the State, in terms of infrastructure, training and sporting competitions. Each time a national team travels for competitions the State gets involved. Whether it is football or other sporting disciplines, moreover, other disciplines are offended and often deplore the hegemony of football. Because we often hear about the billions that are injected into this discipline when Senegal plays the World Cup or the African Cup. As usual, the State will adopt the same posture in supporting national selections in international competitions. Because there is something which is at the heart of our project and on this basis the people have placed their trust in us. This is the policy of sovereignty. We believe that sport is part of what allows us to assert our sovereignty. The State does not turn away from anything that can contribute to the influence of our country at the African and international level.
“Delivery of the Léopold Senghor stadium is scheduled for March 2025”
“On the 2025 finance law, it must be remembered that the budget which was voted for our ministry is based on what we are going to implement. We are in the era of program budgets. It is not the budgets which must justify the actions but it is the opposite. You express the needs. Sport, like culture, needs local infrastructure. The concentration of infrastructure in Dakar does not favor school and university sport. We want to increase its development and better revitalize it. And it is local infrastructure that can resolve them. I have already visited the stadium construction sites of Sédhiou and Kédougou. My tour is not over yet. There are 11 projects underway between 2016 and 2017. These are projects like that of Me Babacar Sèye of Saint Louis. There are others like the Ngueniène Stadium, Malika Stadium etc. There are 11 stadiums on my office table. Some have a start-up advance. There have been disbursements but none have been completed. It should be noted that there is no budgetary infrastructure. Every year since 2016, there have been budgetary allocations intended for construction sites. Even if there wasn’t one this year. However, we are going to take charge of these projects because the populations need them. In Sédhiou, I noticed that the actors are angry since they travel elsewhere to organize sporting events. There are the beginnings of solutions on these sites which were supposed to be finished. Today, we should have focused on building stadiums meeting Caf and Fifa standards and being able to organize the African Cup of Nations in 2029. Delivery of the Léopold Senghor stadium is scheduled for March 2025.
Pope Thiaw contract: “we are going to have a discussion with the FS »
“I have just received a letter signed by the president of the Senegalese Football Federation. It is dated December 27. He informed me of the decisions of the executive committee. I will have an interview with him this week and we will have a discussion. I remind you that it is the federation which chooses the coach and it is the State which, as employer, pays. Sport is a priority because it is a showcase and above all it allows us to support Senegalese youth. It is thanks to culture and sport that you can support your youth, instill your cultural and traditional values and be able to strengthen their belonging to the Senegalese nation. There’s nothing like hearing the national anthem ring out at international competitions. The State will spare no effort so that international competitions can shine at the African and global level. The national football team and other disciples are on the right track.
“We pay vibrant tribute to Aliou Cisse»
“The Aliou Cissé page is turned. We pay him a vibrant tribute. It will truly raise the flag of Senegal on the roof of Africa. Today we are planning for the future. I hope there will be a next African Cup. I also congratulate the Senegalese Football Federation and the technical management of the national team because Senegal was able to qualify for the CAN”
“Window organization Fiba was not part of the budgetary arbitration…”
“If the FIba windows were able to be held in Dakar, it is because the State authorized it. He was not obliged because their organization was not part of the arbitration. But in accordance with the vision of the President of the Republic and the importance that we attach to the participation of national teams in international competitions, we decided to support them. The exit of coach Ngagne de Sagana on the condition of preparation? I think he was not well informed. I believe that the president of the Senegalese Basketball Federation understood well. There was no question of bonuses. Already, the State was not already obliged to support these windows, but insisted on granting the bonuses. He says that I have brought about a reform in the ministry and which is part of the “Jub jubal and Jubanti”. This is what was done and we traveled with hard cash. I said that from now on bonus payments will be made from the public treasury and players give their account numbers. For football, he has no worries.”
« L’State places particular importance OH Dakar 2026 »
“The YOG 2026 is on the horizon. We are less than 24 months away. These are games whose organization has been entrusted to our country since 2018 and postponed to 2022 due to the covid-19 pandemic. This is part of our heritage. I took the file head on. Before doing so, at the highest level, the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister attached particular importance to these Youth Olympic Games to be able to meet the challenge of the organization but also the participation of our athletes. Not ensuring this is breaking our sovereignty. When we received the contract to host the Games, Senegal committed 35.970 billion. This is the host contract. It is the city of Dakar which hosts but it is Senegal which organizes. If the State had not given its anointing, there would be no YOG in our country and the IOC would choose another country. Alongside this contribution from Senegal, there is funding from the French Development Agency (AFD). This is a loan and I would like to point out that it is not a donation. It is granted to the State of Senegal. It amounts to 39 billion for the construction of the sites which will organize the competitions such as the Iba Mar stadium, the Olympic swimming pool and the local infrastructures planned in Diamniadio, the equestrian trails and in Saly. We must have all the mobilization of all young people around these Games. The President of the Republic gave me instructions for the state budget to be controlled. Of the 35 billion allocated since 2018, 19 billion were mobilized by the YOG Organizing Committee. This is the reference situation that we found upon our arrival. For the participation of our athletes, the Ministry of Sports had working sessions with the Federations. We have developed a preparation program which starts this month of January. This will be the starting point. There are internships, training. This program has already been budgeted. I remind you that I have the responsibility to ensure the proper use of resources. We therefore held an interministerial council under the leadership of the Prime Minister and a pre-council. A certain number of resolutions numbering 40. I am responsible for ensuring follow-up. It should be added that we are still awaiting the contribution from the IOC.
