The Senegal national rugby team arrived in Uganda this morning, ahead of the highly anticipated Rugby Africa Cup tournament set to take place from July 18 to 28.
Senegal is one of the eight teams participating in this year’s Rugby Africa Cup, alongside hosts Uganda, Kenya, defending champions Namibia, Zimbabwe, Algeria, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso.
The games will officially kick off on July 20, with Senegal facing off against Kenya in their opening match at the Namboole Stadium.
If victorious, they will then take on the winner between Algeria and Ivory Coast in the semi-finals at Wankulukuku on July 24.
Shortly after their arrival in the country, Senegal rugby national team prop Ousmane N’diaye, who plays for Union St Denis-Drancy in France, highlighted the strong link between Senegal and France in rugby in an interview with NBS Sport.
“The link between Senegal and France has come a long time and it’s a very good link. We are a lot of players that play in the French Championship, and I think it’s good for Senegal rugby,” he said.
Indeed, the Senegalese squad is dominated by players from French clubs, with 21 out of the 28 players plying their trade in the French Championship.
Ousmane N’diaye plays for Union St Denis-Drancy in France which also has other players like Kaba Cisse, Lamine Sylla, Demba Kane, and Assane Ndiaye included in the squad.
Senegal coach Sekou Sakho on Friday revealed that the decision to include a majority of players from France was a strategic one aimed to assemble the best possible team to compete at the Rugby Africa Cup.
“We have put together a list of the best players to be able to perform,” Sakho said.
“We made a list of 28 players with Senegalese players playing in the French championship but also local players. The objective was to put the best players to be able to perform.” He added.
Senegal Rugby National team players that play in France:
1.Mamadou Cisse – Prop, La Rochelle
2.Fernandez Correa – Prop, Massy
3.Abdou Dieye – Prop, Bedarides
4.Ousmane N’diaye – Prop, Union St Denis-Drancy
5.Mamadou Ndiaye Mor – Prop, Tulle
6.Kaba Cisse – Hooker, Union St Denis-Drancy
7.Moustapha Ndiaye – Hooker, St-Yrieix
8.Bouna Fall – Second Row, Salles
9.Tony Lanauve – Second Row, Cs Nuiton
10.Moctar Sougoufarar – Second Row, Sarcelles
11.Lamine Sylla – Second Row, Union St Denis-Drancy
12.Cheikhou Danfakha – Back Row, Le Havre
13.Abdelkarim Fofana – Back Row, Rouen Normandie Rugby
14.Babacar Ba – Scrum Half, Cusset
15.Demba Kane – Scrum Half, Union St Denis-Drancy
16.Ismail Barrada – Fly Half, St Medard
17.Mamadou Ndiaye – Fly Half, C’Chartres Rugby
18.Alassane Sagna – Center, Cusset
19.Cheikh Sanha – Center, Coq Luguevin
20.Djibi Diallo – Winger, Vannes
21.Saibo Sakho – Fullback, Epernay
Senegal Rugby National team players that don’t play in France:
1.Mamadou Sarr – Prop, Asfa (Senegal)
2.Abdou Lom – Back Row, Asfa (Senegal)
3.Assane Ndiaye – Scrum Half, Requins (Senegal)
4.Abou Sy – Center, Asfa (Senegal)
5.Insa Thior – Winger, Asfa (Senegal)
6.Ameth Sall – Fullback, Jambars (Senegal)
7.Khadim Cisse – Back Row, Piacenza (Italy)
