With the Youth Olympic Futsal Tournaments Dakar 2026 now in full swing, Senegal's men's and women's teams are experiencing the excitement of competing on home soil. As the first Olympic sporting event on African soil unfolds, the host nation's young futsal players are showcasing their talents on the international stage, while inspiring hopes for the continued development of the sport in the country.

The atmosphere at the Iba Mar Diop Stadium in the capital, Dakar, has been electric, with enthusiastic crowds turning out to support the participating teams. Whenever Senegal take to the pitch, the noise rises another level, with packed stands and passionate supporters cheering on their young players, creating a memorable setting for the first Olympic futsal matches ever staged on the African continent.

Among those in attendance for Senegal's women's second group-stage match against Venezuela on 3 November was Abdoulaye Fall, President of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), who spoke about the significance of hosting the Youth Olympic Games and his hopes for the future of futsal in the country.

"It's a feeling of pride that drives us as Senegalese and Africans because this is the first time in Olympic history that the Olympic flame and spirit have resonated across Africa," he said. "We're used to following the (Olympic) Games from afar, but this is the first time we're experiencing it here in Senegal. So, it's really important to us and a huge source of pride, both as Senegalese people and as Africans."

For Fall, the tournament represents more than an opportunity to compete for Olympic medals. It is also an important step towards establishing futsal as a growing sport in a country with a rich footballing tradition. "But the most important thing is that we're playing a competition in Senegal and we are going to work to further develop, especially now that we're starting to have the necessary infrastructure," he explained.

"It's quite a unique discipline because it requires specialised infrastructure. We're going to work to expand that too, within the context of our development, to have the largest number of pitches at national level, and then to organise national tournaments in collaboration with the technical teams."

Beyond futsal, Fall also outlined his broader ambitions for Senegalese football, emphasising the importance of strengthening domestic structures. "We're working to develop professional players who stay in Senegal, and to do that we need to develop local football," he said.

For Kasra Haghighi, FIFA's Head of Olympics, Futsal & Beach Soccer, the enthusiasm surrounding the tournament demonstrates the potential for futsal to grow in Senegal and across the African continent.

“The people of Senegal have brought incredible heart and atmosphere to both the men's and women's tournaments so far. Their passion for futsal is there for everyone to see, and they have been fantastic supporters of all the participating teams,” said Mr Haghighi.

“The Senegalese Football Association has invested for several years in developing its national futsal teams in this age category. Seeing both teams win matches against some of the best teams in the world is a fantastic achievement and a reflection of that commitment. The futsal flooring, supported by FIFA, will also leave a lasting legacy, providing important infrastructure for the continued development of futsal and the next generation of Senegalese talent. We hope this tournament will inspire even more young people to take up futsal and help the sport continue to grow in Senegal in the years to come.”

Gelson Fernandes, FIFA's Deputy Chief Member Associations Officer and Director Member Associations – Africa & Caribbean, also praised Senegal's role as host nation and the opportunity for its young players to compete on the Olympic stage.

"It is wonderful to see both Senegal's men's and women's futsal teams taking part in this historic competition and representing their country with such pride. This is an important moment for the development of futsal in Senegal, and we hope the experience will encourage more young boys and girls to get involved in the sport."

The enthusiasm of the home supporters has also left a strong impression on Senegal women's head coach Walimata Seye, who believes the passionate crowds in Dakar are an encouraging sign for the future of futsal in the country.

"There is so much enthusiasm. The fans are here. They spur us on, they motivate us, they support us. So above all, we want to thank them for that and we hope from this point on, futsal is going to expand in Senegal."