A national sport and discipline of great symbolic value, Senegalese wrestling generates significant financial flows, but remains largely informal. According to sports management consultant Mamadou Manizor Thiam, the discipline suffers from a lack of "a clear national strategy."

Indeed, the guest on Seneweb Eco this Sunday, February 8, 2026, believes that the main obstacle lies in governance. "There is a lack of modernized governance for the fight," he asserts, arguing that the transition to a federative management structure, while necessary, has been poorly explained. "The federation is a very good thing, but the communication surrounding its implementation has not been clear," he emphasizes.

He points out that several wrestlers opposed it, deeming it opaque or unfavorable to the development of the discipline.

This situation is hindering the arrival of structured investors, particularly sponsors. "It's not that they don't exist, it's that they've left," analyzes Mr. Thiam.

To bring them back, he believes it is essential to "reassure them with a clear national strategy, modernized governance and a sustainable economy. Sponsors will return the day they are reassured," he says.

The sports management consultant also emphasizes the issue of infrastructure. "We practically have only one stadium where wrestling takes place in Senegal," he laments, advocating for the construction of more arenas to alleviate congestion in Dakar and professionalize the sport.

Training wrestlers is also an urgent matter to revitalize Senegalese wrestling because "a career is built," he reminds us, calling for the structuring of wrestling schools, training athletes in anti-doping rules, career management and education.