In Senegal, soccer is not ready to forget such a year with the historic coronation of the Lions at the AFCON, the razzia at the CAF Awards, the qualification in the quarterfinals of the Lionesses at the WAFCON and that of the men in the round of 16 of the World Cup. A year also marked by the CAN women's handball at home, the 7th continental wonder of beach soccer or Dame Fall and the reconquest of its world title in Roller. Spotlight on an unforgettable year.
Historic victory of the Lions at the AFCON
Fifty-seven years after its first participation in the AFCON in Tunisia, Senegal is finally crowned African champion, for the first time in its history. An interminable wait of more than half a century that ended on February 6, 2022 at the Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé. Senegal exorcises its demons. By beating Egypt in the final (0-0, 4-2 pen) and penalty shootout, a real "curse" for Senegalese soccer was broken.
A coronation in diesel mode with a laborious group stage and then a rise in power during the cut-off matches against Cape Verde (2-0), Equatorial Guinea (3-1) and Burkina Faso (3-1). The African champions were then welcomed with great pomp by hundreds of thousands of people during a memorable procession of nearly 9 hours to the Palace of the Republic.
Abdoulaye Wade Stadium: Senegal inaugurates its jewel
Two weeks after the victory of the Lions at the AFCON, Senegalese soccer opens a new era with the inauguration of the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium. A 50,000 seat stadium built in the new city of Diamniadio (25 km from Dakar). Six heads of state, including Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Recep Tayip Erdogan of Turkey, were present in Senegal for the naming of the stadium. A show and a gala match opposing the Generation 2002 to the African Legends were organized.
One month after this inauguration, it was the turn of the national A team to unveil its new clothes of African champion. Beaten 1-0 by Egypt 4 days earlier in Cairo, the Lions of Senegal have the obligation to win in this second leg of the 2022 World Cup play-off. The 3rd qualification of Senegal is at the end of the penalty shootout. While the locals had returned to the height of the Pharaohs on the whole of the two games. History will remember that Boulaye Dia is the first scorer in this new stadium.
CAF Awards: Senegal's raid
After two editions not awarded because of the Covid-19 pandemic, 2022 marks the return of the CAF Awards ceremony, rewarding the best actors of African soccer of the year. It is in Morocco, that it is held on the sidelines of the women's CAN. It is a back to back for Sadio Mané holding the title in 2019. Author of an exceptional year in club and national selection of Senegal, the Senegalese striker is logically rewarded before Salah. Except for the title of African player of the year and the best female selection, the trophies of best coach, best young person, best goal and male selection of the year are the property of Senegal. A real plebiscite.
The Lionesses in the quarterfinals of the AFCON
Back to the AFCON, 10 years after their first participation in 2012, the women's team of Senegal offers a historic journey. For the first time in their history, the Lionesses reached the quarterfinals of the competition. They stop at the doors of the last four, beaten by Zambia (1-1, 4-2 pen). Against Tunisia, the girls of coach Mame Moussa Cissé snatch a place for the intercontinental playoffs scheduled in February 2023 qualifying for the World Cup 2023 Australia - New Zealand.
The 7th star of the Lions of beach soccer
Senegal is undoubtedly the reference of beach soccer in Africa. The Lions of the sand gleaned a 7th continental crown in October in Mozambique. The teammates of Alsény Ndiaye have indeed flown over the first round before working in the semi-finals against Mozambique (3-2) and then against Egypt in the final (2-2, 6-5 pen). In 10 participations, Senegal has always been on the podium of the CAN. This 7th African star allows the 4th world (record ranking for an African team) to qualify for the 2023 World Cup in Abu Dhabi.
The Lionesses of handball missed at home
From November 9 to 19, Senegal hosted the 25th edition of the women's handball WAFCON. At home and in front of a Dakar Arena, the Senegalese team unfortunately stopped in the semi-final against the Angolan ogre in a suspenseful match. Soukeyna Sagna had the final ball with 15 seconds left in regulation time. The Lionesses did not manage to win the games they needed. Against Cameroon for the first place in group C, Angola then in the semi-final and finally against Congo for the bronze medal match.
Fourth in the final ranking of "its AFCON", Senegal seems to this day in its place. Doungou Camara and company have lost 3 of their 6 games in the competition. They only managed to win against Madagascar and Ivory Coast in the group stage and against Egypt in the ¼ final. Thanks to this success, Senegal, absent from the last world championships, has nevertheless qualified for the 2023 edition co-organized by Denmark, Norway and Sweden. What to save their tournament.
Senegal at the World Cup without Sadio Mané
For its third participation in the World Cup, Senegal was full of ambitions. Out of the group phase in 2018, the Lions were aiming at least the quarterfinals. At 10 days of the beginning of the competition, the African champions witnessed the serious injury of their star Sadio Mané. The forfeit is confirmed a few days later. The Senegalese team arrived in Qatar without any reference points.
Beaten 0-2 at the beginning by the Netherlands, Senegal recovered against Qatar, the host country (3-1) and then snatched their qualification for the round of 16 against Ecuador (2-1) in their third group match. Quarter finalists in 2002, the Lions of Senegal will not do better, crushed 3-0 by England. The biggest defeat of its history in the World Cup. Without his master player, the step was too high for Aliou Cissé and his men. At the same time, Morocco explodes the African glass ceiling in the World Cup by reaching the semi-finals.
Other achievements were recorded by Senegalese sport in 2022. The most significant was Dame Fall who regained her world championship title in November at the World Rollerblading Championships in Argentina. The Senegalese athlete set a new world record in Free Jump (1.70 m) in the final. The comeback of Senegalese athletics at the African Championships in Mauritius with three medals including the title of African champion of Sangoné Kandji in women's triple jump also marked the year 2022. Senegal remained on 6 years without medal at the African Championships.
