Football in Senegal

Last updated
Football in Senegal
CountrySenegal
Governing body Senegalese Football Federation
National team(s) national football team
National competitions
Club competitions
International competitions

The sport of football , the most popular sport in Senegal, in the country of Senegal is run by the Senegalese Football Federation. [1] The association administers the national football team, as well as the Premier League. [2] [3] Some of the most notable players from the country include Roger Mendy, Jules Bocandé, Tony Sylva, Henri Camara, El Hadji Diouf, Sadio Mané and Kalidou Koulibaly.

Contents

League system

The Senegalese league system is divided into two leagues: Ligue 1 to Ligue 2, equivalent to the leagues in France and has been professional since 2007. The lower three are divided into Nationale 1 and 2 which are amateur levels. Until 2008, they were called Division 1, 2, 3 and 4. Senegal also feature cup competitions, a major cup being the Senegal FA Cup, which was founded in the 1980s. Another cup is the Senegalese Super Cup, which was known as the National Assembly Cup, created in 1979, the League Cup created in 2009 and the Champion's Trophy created in 2014.

History

Football in Senegal has been introduced around the 20th century during French colonial rule. One of the first clubs of the country were ASC Jeanne d'Arc and Foyer France Senegal. After independence, Foyer France Senegal became ASC Diaraf. Numerous clubs were created in the 1970s and the 1990s. For many seasons, all of the clubs participating comes from the western part of the country where Dakar, Saint-Louis and Ziguinchor are located. The Second Division was created in the 1970s, the Third and the Fourth Divisions were later created and in the 1990s, the regional divisions were created. The newest clubs in Senegal are Diambars and Génération Foot, the two were in Ligue 1 as of the 2016-17 season, the latter spending their first season.

Diaraf is the leader in the number of titles numbering 11 championship and 15 cup titles. ASC Jeanne d'Arc is second with 10 championship and 6 cup titles. Next is AS Douanes Gorée and several more clubs, several have a title each.

Several clubs including Diaraf and Jeanne d'Arc competed in the continental championship and cup competitions, the two competed the most.

Stadiums

Stade Demba Diop and Stade de Diaraf are its busiest stadiums in Senegal and has the largest seating capacity, they are located in the capital Dakar.

National team

The men's national football team's greatest international success was reaching the quarter-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, becoming only the second African team at the time to do so. [4] [5] The nation won their first Africa Cup of Nations title in 2021. [6] They also reached the final in 2002 and 2019. [7] [8] [9]

Seasons in Senegalese football

2010s:2010–112011–122012–132013–142014–15 2015–16 2016–17

First-tier championships

1960s196119621963196419651966196719681969
1970s:1970197119721973197419751976197719781979
1980s:1980 1981 19821983198419851986198719881989
1990s:1990 1990–91 1991–92 19931994 1995 199619971998 1999
2000s: 2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010s: 2010 2010–11 2011–12 2013 2013-14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Senegalese Football Federation</span> Governing body of football in Senegal

The Senegalese Football Federation is the governing body of football in Senegal. It is based in the capital of Senegal, Dakar, and was founded in 1960. The FSF aided in the development of football in Senegal, specifically for its professional and amateur leagues, youth and women's football and academies. Currently the FSF oversees the professional leagues, run by the Ligue Sénégalaise de Football Professionnel (LSFP) and fully organises the national teams, youth, women's and amateur football and all football administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ASC Jeanne d'Arc</span> Senegalese football club

Association Sportive et Culturelle Jeanne d'Arc or ASC Jeanne d'Arc for short is a Senegalese football club based in Dakar. It was founded in 1923 and one of the oldest in the country. They play at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor. The club currently plays in National 1. Since 1975, the club is second with the most championship titles numbering ten, one less than ASC Diaraf. The total honors that Jeanne d'Arc has won is 25, second after Djaraf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ASC Jaraaf</span> Senegalese football club

Association Sportive et Culturelle Jaraaf is a Senegalese professional football club based in Dakar. They play in the top division in Senegalese football. Their home stadium is Stade de Diaraf. The club name is sometimes spelt ASC Jaraaf. The word Diaraf or Jaraaf comes from the Serer language - Jaraaf, variation :Jaraff. The Jaraffs were the head of the Serer noble council of electors responsible for electing the Serer kings in pre-colonial times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AS Douanes (Senegal)</span> Senegalese football club

AS Douanes is a Senegalese professional football club based in Dakar. The current chairman as of 2016 is Alassane Ndione. Douanes also has the third most number of major honours won in Senegal numbering 14, they 6 championship and cup titles, a super cup and a league cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ASC Port Autonome</span> Senegalese football club

Union Culturelle et Sportive des Travailleurs Port Autonome is a Senegalese football club based in Dakar. Their home stadium is Stade Port Autonome. The club is named after the city and country's main shipping port the Autonomous Port of Dakar, it is also the ninth-busiest port in Africa.

Ligue 1 is the top division of the Senegal Football Association, it was founded in 1960. The league also hosts a domestic cup, the Coupe de la Ligue. Football clubs from the Senegal Premier League also compete for the Senegal FA Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ASC Linguère</span> Association football club in Senegal

ASC Linguère is a Senegalese football club based in Saint-Louis. It plays in the second division in Senegalese football. Its home stadium is Stade de Linguère.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Football in Mali</span>

In Mali, football is played widely and followed avidly, football is the most popular sport in Mali. Large professional clubs and international competition draw much popular attention, and the sport is played as a pastime.

Pape Alioune Diop was a Senegalese football coach who managed the Senegalese national team at the 1986 African Cup of Nations.

The 1991-92 Division 1 season was the 28th of the competition of the first-tier football in Senegal. The tournament was organized by the Senegalese Football Federation. The season began in October 1991 and finished on 9 August 1992. ASEC Ndiambour won the first title and participated in the 1993 African Cup of Champions Clubs the following year. US Gorée participated in the 1993 CAF Cup, ASC Jeanne d'Arc in the 1993 CAF Winners' Cup and ASC Diaraf in the 1993 West African Cup.

The 1995 Division 1 season was the 30th of the competition of the first-tier football in Senegal. The tournament was organized by the Senegalese Football Federation. The season began in January and finished on 6 August 1995. ASC Diaraf won the eight title and participated in the 1996 African Cup of Champions Clubs the following year. AS Douanes participated in the 1996 CAF Cup, Entente Sotrac Ouakam in the 1996 CAF Winners' Cup and ASEC Ndiambour in the 1996 West African Cup.

The 2001-02 Division 1 season was the 37th of the competition of the first-tier football in Senegal. The tournament was organized by the Senegalese Football Federation. The season began on 20 October 2001 and finished on 6 May 2002. ASC Jeanne d'Arc won the ninth title and participated in the 2002 CAF Champions League the following year. AS Douanes participated in the 2002 CAF Cup of Cups and SONACOS in the 2002 CAF Winners' Cup.

The 2002-03 Division 1 season was the 38th of the competition of the first-tier football in Senegal. The tournament was organized by the Senegalese Football Federation. The season began on 9 November 2002 and finished on 29 June 2003. ASC Jeanne d'Arc won the tenth title and the next club to win two in a row, thus made the club to win the most number of national championship titles until the following season when Diaraf would share it once more with ten in the following season.

The 2003-04 Division 1 season was the 39th of the competition of the first-tier football in Senegal. The tournament was organized by the Senegalese Football Federation. The season began on 13 December 2003 and finished on 9 October 2004. ASC Diaraf won the tenth title, the next club in Senegal to win the tenth title after ASC Jeanne d'Arc last season. The total number of national championship titles would remain tied with ten until Diaraf retook the totals as they won their eleventh and recent in the 2010 season. Diaraf along with AS Douanes would compete in the 2005 CAF Champions League the following season. ASEC Ndiambour participated in the 2005 CAF Confederation Cup, as AS Douanes also won the 2004 Senegalese Cup and were second place in the league, as Douanes qualified into the 2005 CAF Champions League, Dakar Université Club, the fourth place club participated in the 2005 CAF Confederation Cup.

The 2008 Division 1 season was the 43rd of the competition of the first-tier football in Senegal. The tournament was organized by the Senegalese Football Federation. The season began in late in the mid year on 26 June and finished late on 23 November. It was the first year they played at a professional level, also it was the final season it was titled "Division", the following year would become a "League". AS Douanes won their fifth title, the next club to win three consecutive titles. AS Douanes along with Casa Sport would compete in the 2009 CAF Champions League the following season. ASC Diaraf who won the 2008 Senegalese Cup participated in the 2009 CAF Confederation Cup, along with ASC Yakaar after defeating ASC HLM in a Confederation Cup qualification barrage.

The 2009 Ligue 1 season was the 44th of the competition of the first-tier football in Senegal and the second professional season. The tournament was organized by the Senegalese Football Federation. The season began a little earlier on 2 May and finished on 31 October. It was the first season labelled as a "League". ASC Linguère won their first and only title, the next club to win three consecutive titles, and a year later would compete in the 2010 CAF Champions League. ASC Diaraf who won the 2008 Senegalese Cup participated in the 2009 CAF Confederation Cup. Since that season, only one club each would qualify into the continental championship or cup, the winner of each. The West African Cup was again revived and brought two clubs, a second place club from Ligue 1 and a second placed Senegalese Cup club.

The 2010 Division 1 season was the 45th of the competition of the first-tier football in Senegal and the third professional season. The tournament was organized by the Senegalese Football Federation. The season began earlier on 20 February and finished on 7 August. It was the second season labelled as a "League". ASC Diaraf won their eleventh and recent title, and a year later would compete in the 2011 CAF Champions League. Touré Kunda who won the 2010 Senegalese Cup participated in the 2011 CAF Confederation Cup. ASC Niarry Tally and ASC HLM participated in the West African Cup for the last time.

ASC Diaraf, a Senegalese professional association football club, has gained entry to Confederation of African Football (CAF) competitions on several occasions. They have represented Senegal in the Champions League on thirteen occasions, the Confederation Cup on Four separate occasions, the now-defunct Cup Winners' Cup three separate occasions, and the now-defunct CAF Cup one occasion.

ASC Jeanne d'Arc a Senegalese professional association football club, has gained entry to Confederation of African Football (CAF) competitions on several occasions. They have represented Senegal in the Champions League on nine occasions, the now-defunct Cup Winners' Cup on four separate occasions, and the now-defunct CAF Cup on two occasions. Their overall representation is second behind Diaraf but is the Senegalese club who had the highest achievement being a finalist which was the 1998 CAF Cup. Both Jeanne d'Arc and Diaraf are Semifinalists at the CAF Champions League.

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References

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  2. "Senegal football chiefs declare war on the use of magic: Sports". Africareview.com. 2013-03-23. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
  3. "Senegal: the football academy". FRANCE 24. 15 January 2010. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
  4. "BBC SPORT | WORLD CUP | Senegal v Turkey | Turkey's golden delight". BBC Sport.
  5. Hann, Mark. "Senegal is counting on its World Cup football stars to lift its political gloom". The Conversation.
  6. "Senegal win Afcon in penalty shootout". BBC Sport.
  7. Teclab, Yousef (19 February 2018). "The joy and despair of a superb Senegal side at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations".
  8. Copnall, James (11 February 2002). "Cameroon 0 - 0 Senegal (aet: Cameroon won 3 - 2 on penalties)" via The Giardian.
  9. "Africa Cup of Nations: Senegal reach final with victory over Tunisia". BBC Sport. 14 July 2019.