UFOA-A U17 tournament still awaits a Dakar venue

The UFOA-A U17 tournament is approaching without a confirmed stadium, leaving preparations in Dakar unsettled just three days before the opening match. The competition is scheduled to run from September 7 to 20, while the participating delegations have already begun arriving in the Senegalese capital.

Iba Mar Diop is at the centre of the uncertainty. The stadium has reportedly not yet agreed to host the fixtures, although discussions are continuing and could still lead to a final arrangement. If selected, the venue would stage its first major competition after a long period without activity and its recent refurbishment for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

Leopold Sédar Senghor Stadium remains unavailable because it has not received approval from the Senegalese National Olympic and Sports Committee. The CNOSS is currently focused on preparations for the Youth Olympic Games, scheduled for October and November. Previous Senegal-hosted editions used Lat Dior Stadium in Thiès and the annex of Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio.

Senegal’s under-17 team has moved to a Dakar hotel after almost a month of preparation in Toubab Dialaw. The other teams are also settling in, with Mali training at Ngor Stadium. The competition’s launch is therefore set, but its principal venue is still awaiting a decision.