Senegal football captain Koulibaly praises Dakar 2026 as landmark for Africa

DAKAR, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Senegal football captain Kalidou Koulibaly has praised the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games as a landmark event for Africa, saying hosting the first Olympic sporting event on the continent was an important opportunity to showcase Senegal and Africa to the world.

"It was very important to me. It's the first time an African country has hosted an event like this. Having the Youth Olympic Games here in Senegal is incredible, especially in Africa," Koulibaly said in an interview with Olympics.com at the Youth Olympic Village in Diamniadio.

"It was important for us to represent Senegal well, and we did that, particularly with the opening ceremony. It was magnificent," he added.

The Senegal captain, who serves as an ambassador for Dakar 2026, also expressed pride in the country's athletes, highlighting their achievements in beach wrestling at the Games.

Koulibaly said he watched Maguette Diop win the men's 80kg beach wrestling gold medal while travelling to Senegal by plane. Diop claimed the title in Saly last Saturday, just minutes after compatriot Elisabeth Diatta won the women's under-55kg crown.

"I watched him on the plane. I'm very proud of what he achieved and to see that beach wrestling has a place at the Games, because people have been asking for it for a long time," he said.

"You can also see Senegal's strength: the lion came out and brought us the gold medal," he added.

Koulibaly is currently in Dakar preparing for Senegal's two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Sudan on Nov. 12 and 16.