Sport in Senegal
Wrestling has become the number one national sport in Senegal, ahead of football (soccer), and has also become a means of social ascendance. Wrestling is not just seen as a sport, it is also a slice of African life, tradition, and culture, in which there is a curious mix of animist and Muslim beliefs. Senegal has one of the most active national sports scenes in West Africa.
Dakar, Senegal has hosted the All Africa Games and several Africa Cup football (soccer) championships. A national holiday was declared after Senegal beat France in first-round play at the 2002 football World Cup, in Senegal's first appearance in the competition. The country has national men's and women's football and basketball teams that rank among the best in Africa.
Wrestler Ambroise Sarr of Senegal at the 1984 Summer Olympics Traditional African wrestling is also extremely popular throughout the country, and Senegalese wrestlers are among the best-known national sports figures. They wrestle in a sandy arena and attempt to win by making their opponent's knees, shoulder, or back touch the sand. Matches are festive and lively occasions, with music, dancing, and praise singing for the athletes; the actual wrestling bouts, however, are often over within a few seconds.
Abdoulaye Faye is a Senegalese footballer who plays as a Defender. Faye began his career playing for ASEC Ndiambour and Jeanne d'Arc in his native Senegal before moving to French side Lens in 2002.
The Senegal national football team, nicknamed the Lions of Teranga, is the national team of Senegal and is controlled by the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football. It made its first World Cup in 2002 and caused a huge upset by defeating world and European champions France 1–0 in the tournament's opening game. Senegal's first appearance in the African Nations Cup was in 1965 and ranked 4th. In 1990, in the African Nations Cup, Senegal once again finished rank.
Senegal hosted the African Nations Cup in 1992, in which, after qualifying for the quarter finals by finishing second in their group, Senegal lost 1–0 to Cameroon in the quarter finals. Senegal's best finish in the African Nations Cup came in 2022, when they beat Egypt 4–2 on penalties for their first title.
Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to Senegal. Is there something missing? If you know of something that should be listed here, please let us know.
Popular sports of Senegal
- Football, Wrestling, basketball, surfing
Traditional or Regional Sports
- La Luttle - a unique style of wrestling
Senegal Sporting Success
- Senegal beat Egypt 4–2 on penalties for their first Africa Cup of Nations title in 2022.
Great athletes from Senegal
- Abdoulaye Faye (football)
- Mouhamed Ndao (Tyson) - traditional wrestler
Senegal Sports trivia
- A national holiday was declared after Senegal beat France in first-round play at the 2002 football World Cup, in Senegal's first appearance in the competition.
- The Paris-Dakar rally was an annual off-road endruance rally event that finished in Dakar Senegal. Since 2020, the race is held entirely in Saudi Arabia.
Senegal at major events
Past sporting events hosted in Senegal
- All Africa Games - Dakar, Senegal
- Africa Cup football (soccer) championships
- 1992 African Nations Cup
Upcoming sporting events in Senegal
- 2026 Summer Youth Olympics to be held in Dakar
Annual sporting events held in Senegal
Sporting Facilities in Senegal
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