Football in Senegal

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.

Football in Senegal
CountrySenegal
Governing bodySenegalese Football Federation
National team(s)national football team
National competitions
Club competitions
International competitions

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
See also: Timeline of Senegalese football

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
Main article: List of football stadiums in Senegal

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
Main article: Senegal national football team
Main article: Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations

The men's national football team greatest success was reaching the quarter finals of the 2002 World Cup being only 2nd African team at the time to do so.[4][5] The national also have reached the final of the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations.[6][7] In the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Senegal reached final of a major international football tournament.[8]

Seasons in Senegalese football
2010s: 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17

First-tier championships
1960s 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
1970s: 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1980s: 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1990s: 1990 1990–91 1991–92 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 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

References
  1. "Winners for Sports Stories: Children's Love for Football in Senegal". People's Daily Online. March 27, 2012. Archived from the original on 2013-11-15.
  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. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
  4. "BBC SPORT | WORLD CUP | Senegal v Turkey | Turkey's golden delight". news.bbc.co.uk.
  5. Hann, Mark. "Senegal is counting on its World Cup football stars to lift its political gloom". The Conversation.
  6. Teclab, Yousef (February 19, 2018). "The joy and despair of a superb Senegal side at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations".
  7. Copnall, James (February 11, 2002). "Cameroon 0 - 0 Senegal (aet: Cameroon won 3 - 2 on penalties)" – via www.theguardian.com.
  8. "Africa Cup of Nations: Senegal reach final with victory over Tunisia". July 14, 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
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