DAKAR, December 10, 2024 - The National Sport Press Association of Senegal (ANPS) organized the 18th edition of its annual gala on Saturday, 7 December, to reward the best sportsmen and women who distinguished themselves during last sport season. The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Sport and members of the sports movement. Over the course of an evening, the sports press organization honored the sporting excellence of more than 15 athletes presented as role models.

“The Senegal Sports Press Gala is more than just a ceremony. It is a symbol of unity, a melting pot for sharing and a platform for promoting sporting values. It illustrates the ANPS' determination to continue inspiring, uniting and flying the flag for Senegal and Africa,” ANPS President Abdoulaye Thiam stated.

A GALA FOR 2 SEASONS. One of the special features of this 18th edition of the annual gala is that it has combined recognition of the sports press over two seasons (2022-2023 and 2023-2024).  Present or represented, the various winners each received a trophy in addition to words of congratulation.  “The athletes who received awards are recognized by the sporting press as the best, and this is part of our roles. Sport needs the media to relay athletes' performances and push them to transcend themselves. That's what this event is all about,” Thiam added.

AWARDEES Louis François Mendy, the 110m hurdles African champion received the “Amadou Dia Ba” trophy for best sportsman of the 2023-2024 season. He succeeds judoka Mbagnick Ndiaye, who won the award for the previous 2022-2023 season. The Jules “François Bocandé” trophy for the best footballer playing abroad was awarded to Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson and SS Lazio’s striker Boulaye Dia for 2022-2023 and 2022-2024 seasons, respectively.

At the same time, the “Ibrahima Koulibaly” trophy for the best local football player was awarded for the 2022-2023 season to Lamine Camara, one of the architects of the last African Championship of Nations, won by the local national team, who now plays for AS Monaco (France). This season's award went to Cheikh Lô Ndoye, the goalkeeper of AS Jaraff (Local club).

In the Best Strike Wrestler category, Zarco from Grand Yoff won the award of the 2022-2023 season. Modou Lô, who holds the title of “King of the arenas”, was awarded for the third time the supreme distinction of best athltete in that category for the 2023-2024 season. As for the “Abdourahmane Ndiaye Falang” trophy for (wrestling without striking), it was awarded to “Ordinateur” for the 2022-2023 season. General Malika succeeded him in the 2023-2024 season.

Alongside the best athletes selected by vote, some other athletes who have also performed brilliantly received special trophies awarded by the ANPS. These included Mohamed Tafsir Ba, World Kickboxing Champion, Dame Fall, World Rollerblading Champion, Edmond Sanka (Handi Canoe) and Idrissa Keita (Handi Taekwondo). 

 

TRIBUTE TO SPORT PERSONALITIES ANPS' recognition was not limited to the best athletes. Abdoulaye Thiam and his team, who convened the annual gala under the theme of “Sport and social cohesion”, took the opportunity to pay tribute to eminent sports personalities, by awarding them special prizes. These included Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye, President of the Senegalese Olympic Committee, who was instrumental in organizing the forthcoming Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG); Amadou Gallo Fall, former Vice-President and promoter of the Basketball Africa League; and Dr Mohamed Diop, former Olympian, President of the African Swimming Confederation, for his leadership and ongoing crusade against doping; Mrs. Radjah Sy, President of Special Olympics Senegal for her investment in athletes with intellectual disability; Mbagnick Ndiaye who was elected to head the African Fencing Confederation, among others.

FLASHBACK The ANPS also revisited the past to extract the best performances by legends such as Louis Gomis, Lions midfielder at the 1965 and 1968 AFCONs, Awa Dioum, former African sprint and jump champion, and the Senegal national team, winner of the first women's AFCON in 1974. Special prizes were also awarded to them. These recognitions are a way of praising their leadership and influence in the world.

Former journalists were not left out. Pape Amadou Fall, Yatma Lo, former journalists from the daily Le Soleil, Lune Tall and Abdoulaye Thiam, as well as the late Alain Agboton, were all honored. The ceremony ended in a festive atmosphere with an artistic performance.