International - 2026 May 11
Alongside Presidents William Samoei Ruto, Emmanuel Macron and Duma Boko, the President of the Republic, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, took part in the closing session of the high-level panel on Sport and Development, held at the University of Nairobi as part of the Africa-France Business Forum. The event was attended by the President of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, as well as prominent figures from the world of sports.
The Head of State opened his remarks with a statement that drew a standing ovation from the audience: Senegal are African champions. Beyond the phrase lies a deeper reality. Today, the country stands out for its sporting achievements and intends to turn this success into a genuine driver of development.
Addressing his fellow leaders, the President placed sport at the heart of the national transformation agenda. As a sector with strong economic potential, sport calls for investments commensurate with its ambitions, capable of sustainably generating growth, jobs and social cohesion.
With only five months remaining before the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games the first Olympic event ever to be hosted on African soil the impact is already tangible. Construction and renovation works on sports infrastructure have created employment opportunities for more than 132,000 people. Beyond the competition venues, a nationwide network of multifunctional community sports grounds is being developed to provide young people in every municipality with spaces not only for sporting activities, but also for social interaction, learning and community cohesion.
The invitation has now been extended to Dakar next October under the slogan: “Africa Welcomes, Dakar Celebrates.”