Senegal
The westernmost country of mainland West Africa, named after the Senegal River.
Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country of mainland West Africa, situated along the Atlantic Ocean coast. It borders Mauritania to the north, Mali to the east, Guinea to the southeast and Guinea-Bissau to the southwest. Senegal nearly surrounds the Gambia, a country occupying a narrow strip of land along the banks of the Gambia River, which separates Senegal's southern region of Casamance from the rest of the country. It also shares a maritime border with Cape Verde. The capital and largest city of Senegal is Dakar.
- First World Cup Appearance
- 2002
- Best World Cup Finish
- Round of 16 (2002, 2022)
- Historic Milestone
- First African team to win a match in WC history
- Iconic Victory
- Defeating France 1-0 in the 2002 Opening Match
Lore & Background
The country of Senegal is named after the Senegal River. The name of the river may derive from a Portuguese transliteration of the name of the Zenaga, also known as the Sanhaja. Alternatively, it could be a combination of the supreme deity in Serer religion (Rog Sene) and o gal, meaning ‘body of water’ in the Serer language. French author and priest David Boilat proposed that the name comes from the Wolof phrase 'sunuu gaal', which means 'our canoe'.
In Their Own Story
The air in Daejeon was thick with anticipation. The opening whistle had barely faded when the green and yellow kits began their dance against the blue of France. It was a moment frozen in time for millions watching across Africa. When Papa Bouba Diop rose to meet El Hadji Diouf's corner, the stadium held its breath. As the ball struck the net, the roar that erupted was not just from the Senegalese fans but from the entire continent. In that single afternoon, history was rewritten on a grass pitch.
Reader's Guide
Senegal is a semi-presidential republic; since the country's foundation in 1960, it has been recognized as one of the most stable countries on the African continent. French is the official language, but it is understood by only a small minority of the population. Over 30 languages are spoken in Senegal. Wolof is the most widely spoken, with 80% of the population speaking it as a first or second language, acting as Senegal's lingua franca alongside French. Arabic and Pulaar also remain popular among certain communities. Senegalese people are predominantly Muslim.
Did You Know?
- Senegal is the westernmost country in the mainland of the Old World, or Afro-Eurasia.
- Senegal covers a land area of almost 197,000 square kilometres (76,000 sq mi) and has a population of around 18 million.
- On the 2024 V-Dem Democracy Indices, Senegal is ranked 68th in electoral democracy worldwide and 10th in electoral democracy in Africa.
- Senegal is a member state of the African Union, the United Nations, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the
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