A mixed sporting year for Senegal

Like every year, the Dakaractu editorial team takes a round-up of the most significant events in the country. For this year 2024, which is coming to an end, we offer you a range of sporting events which have been emulated in national, but also international, opinion.

Ah, the year 2024 is coming to an end! It was undoubtedly rich in emotions, but also in disappointments on a sporting level for Senegal. From the elimination at CAN 2024 in Ivory Coast, to the debacle at the Paris Olympic Games, including Basketball, handball, the consecration of the youngest football teams (women and men) and the coronation of Reug Reug in MMA, this retrospective highlights the events that most marked the year.

Participation in the African Cup of Nations Ivory Coast 2024

All the Senegalese people rubbed their hands, believing that the festivities at the end of the year 2023 would continue with the start of CAN 2024. Holder of the 2021 title, Senegal was eliminated early in this CAN Côte d'Ivoire 2024 as favorite team. This CAN 2024 competition, which took place in Côte d'Ivoire from January 13 to February 11, 2024, saw the Lions of Téranga being eliminated in the round of 16 by the host country Côte d'Ivoire. Expectations were high for the 2021 reigning champions, but they fell to a febrile Ivorian team in the group stage.

For the first time, a woman has been appointed head of the Ministry of Sports

If other sectors, such as politics, have experienced major changes and upheavals in 2024, the world of sport has not been spared. At the end of the presidential election of March 2024 which brought President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to the presidency, the new government set up by its Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, long awaited by the Senegalese, placed Khady Diène Gaye in the presidency. head of the Ministry of Sports, Youth and Culture.
A first in the country's history to see a woman lead the sports sector, in addition to taking charge of youth and culture. This government composition, which caused debate, also marked a major change with the coupling of the Ministry of Culture to the vast Department of Sports and Youth. This new configuration caused a reaction from those involved in culture and sport, calling into question Khady Diène Gaye's ability to manage these three departments at the same time.

Paris 2024 Olympic Games: A debacle for the Senegalese delegation

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which took place from July 26 to August 11, 2024, were a highlight for the Senegalese delegation, which had a rather disappointing campaign. Despite a better performance than in Tokyo in 2020, the Senegalese delegation returned empty-handed from the Paris Olympic Games. In most disciplines, Senegalese athletes were eliminated from the start. Athletes like Yves Bourhis (Céiste), Louis François Mendy (110 m hurdles), Cheikh Tidiane Diouf (400 m) and even the judoka Mbagnick Ndiaye, although all promising, ended this Olympic campaign without a medal.

While an entire people placed great hopes in him, the Senegalese African champion, Louis François Mendy, narrowly missed the Olympic final of the 110m hurdles. Tied for third in his semi-final with a time of 13″34, the Senegalese sprinter failed to qualify for the final. Cheikh Tidiane Diouf, the other Senegalese athlete eagerly awaited for the 400-meter race, unfortunately failed to reach the final. During his semi-final, the runner finished in 6th place with a time of 44.94 seconds.

Quadruple African champion, Mbagnick Ndiaye could hope to reach the semi-finals. But the Senegalese judoka almost suffered humiliation by conceding an ippon after 47 seconds of combat, eliminated in the round of 16 of the Paris 2024 Olympics by the Georgian Guram Tushishvili, second in the world. It is Yves Bourhis, the talented céiste player, who has had high hopes since his debut in this competition. He distinguished himself by reaching the final of the canoe slalom. However, a big mistake on the course deprived him of a long-awaited Olympic medal.

Despite notable disappointments, such as the CAN and the Olympic Games, 2024 offered Senegal moments of glory, notably with the young football teams and the triumph of Reug Reug. The year still suggests encouraging prospects for the future of Senegalese sport.

Dismissal of Aliou Cissé and appointment of Pape Thiaw as national coach

Engaged in the qualifications for CAN Morocco 2025, the year was eventful for the national football selection. It was marked by the dismissal of Aliou Cissé at the head of the first team. Faced with a loss of speed and performances not necessarily up to par, the new authorities did not renew the national coach, who was at the end of his contract. The head of the selection was entrusted, on an interim basis, to Pape Thiaw, who was finally confirmed as national coach after several good results. Under his leadership, Senegal qualified for CAN 2025.

Basketball: Dakar, a privileged host land

Senegal is beginning to become one of the most favored destinations in the sporting world for the organizers of international competitions. Equipped with several sports infrastructures meeting international standards, the capital very often hosts competitions of international scope.

Basket Africa League 2024

For the fourth consecutive time, Dakar hosted the Basket Africa League, which was held from May 4 to 12, 2024 at the Dakar Arena in Diamniadio. The Senegalese capital was host to the Sahara conference. AS Douanes, finalist in 2023, was the Senegalese representative alongside the Patriotic Army (Rwanda), Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria) and US Monastir (Tunisia). After qualifying, the representing club, AS Douanes, stopped in the quarterfinals, beaten to the wire by Petro de Luanda (66-65).

AfroBasket 2025 Men Qualifications

Regarding the qualifications for AfroBasket 2025, which will take place in Angola from August 12 to 24, Senegal hosted these games, which were held from November 22 to 24, 2024 at the Diamniadio Arena. Housed in group C, Senegal was a hit by beating Rwanda (81-59), Gabon (101-58) and Cameroon (87-83) while waiting for the second window two which will be held in Rwanda next February.

FIBA Women Basketball League Africa 2024

Still in basketball, Senegal was most recently the host of the FIBA ​​Women Basketball League Africa 2024, which was held from November 15 to 30. In this tournament where the best women's basketball clubs in Africa compete, ASCV and JA represented Senegal. ASCVD, which lost in the semi-final, finished fourth (4th) in this African competition, while Jeanne d'Arc finished eighth (8th) out of 12 competing teams.

Handball: A disappointing final for the Lionesses

The year 2024 was also an unlucky period for the national handball team. In search of a first continental title, the Lionesses of handball were beaten in the CAN final by Angola (18-27). Despite an impressive run, they failed to break Angolan supremacy.

Regional football competitions: A source of pride for young people

If Senegal experienced achievements in 2024, it was the youngest category that stood out the most.

The Lionesses U20

The U20 Lionesses retained their title by beating Guinea-Bissau 3-0 in the final of the UFOA/A tournament. Likewise, the Lion Cubs triumphed against Sierra Leone (2-0), thus obtaining their qualification for the CAN U20 2025.
If the start of 2024 was bad, with the elimination of the Téranga Lions at the Ivory Coast CAN, the end of the year was rather encouraging.

Reug Reug: A historic triumph in MMA

One of the most notable victories, if not the most notable of 2024, is Reug Reug's triumph over an undefeated opponent. Oumar Kane, aka Reug Reug, makes MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) history. The striking wrestling specialist was crowned on November 9, 2024, becoming the “One Championship” heavyweight world champion, putting an end to the invincibility of Russian Anatoly Malykhin (14 victories in 14 fights).

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