Soccer

Soccer is a big sport in Senegal. The Senegalese team is very competitive and has played in the World Cup and the Olympics. There is a very large soccer stadium in Dakar.

Everywhere there are young boys playing soccer. Some play on teams, and it is common to see big games between the boys' teams on the weekends. No matter how poor they seem to be, they somehow get a team shirt. Most play without shoes; those who do have shoes to play in only wear them for the games. As soon as the game ends, they pull off their shoes, put on their flip flops or sandals, and carry their game shoes home. We have not seen a single girl playing soccer, not even in neighborhood play.

The first photo shows soccer being played on a neighborhood street.


Next is team practice. We have seen several of these very large complexes around the city. These are big enough for more than twenty games at a time.

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Soccer is played on the beach!

When you don't have a ball, you play with whatever is available!