After making the announcement, the president of Fédé Basketball took action, appointing Moustapha Gaye as head of the High Performance Commission. And who says “high performance” obviously thinks of the prerogatives of the National Technical Directorate (Dtn). While awaiting the content of the mission of the former Lionesses coach, questions remain on the advisability of such an appointment, with risks of encroachment in the area of the current Dtn.By Hyacinthe DIANDY –
The absence of Moustapha Gaye from the spheres of Senegalese basketball will not last long. Resigning in August 2023, the former coach of the Lionesses is making his return. He was appointed president of a new structure, called the “High Performance Commission”. The Senegalese Basketball Federation (Fsbb) made the announcement, via a circular note dated January 17, 2025, addressed to its members, via the League presidents and the clubs.
“In accordance with the provisions of article 42 of the Fsbb regulations, Mr. Moustapha Gaye, former DTN, is appointed to the position of president of the High Performance Commission,” we can read. While noting that nothing is indicated at the moment on the precise mission of the head of this new body. Content that interests many observers and is eagerly awaited. Especially if we know that when we talk about “high performance”, we immediately think of the Dtn, authorized to manage this aspect, not to say the elite.
When we remove “high performance” from the prerogatives of the Dtn…
As a result, questions remain about the advisability of such an appointment. Because we want to ask ourselves: when we remove “high performance” from the prerogatives of the DTN, what does it have left? Otherwise perhaps…the small categories. As such, in relation to Tapha Gaye’s new mission, there are necessarily risks of encroachment in the area of the current Dtn, Raoul Toupane.
Far be it from us to want to pit the two technicians against each other, but it is true that President Babacar Ndiaye’s decision casts a shadow over this future cohabitation between these two structures; even if in principle, in relation to the organization chart, Toupane remains the boss of Tapha. Which might not be the case in practice.
While waiting for a federal communication on the “real role” of Tapha Gaye, speculations and comments are going well under the basket.
-As a reminder, the man who held the position of Dtn and coach of the Women’s National Team resigned following the defeat of the Lionesses in the Afrobasket 2023 final against Nigeria.
A predictable departure in view of yet another negative result recorded by Senegalese basketball, but also linked in part to the threat of sanction from Fiba which hung over the head of coach Tapha. A departure from the double African champion which also left its mark, after a very eventful campaign on Rwandan soil, marked by the incident with Fatou Pouye and Cierra Dillard. Without forgetting the passes of arms with Hadji Sarr and those of the president of Asc Ville de Dakar with Me Babacar Ndiaye.
But today, everything is behind us…Not to say off the floor.
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