Victor Ciss dies, former Senegal football secretary general

Senegalese football has lost a former senior administrator with the death of Victor Ciss, who served as secretary general of the Senegalese Football Federation for 16 years. He died after a long illness during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday.

Ciss held the federation’s top administrative post throughout Augustin Senghor’s presidency. His lengthy time in office made him a familiar figure in the organisation of Senegalese football and in the day-to-day administration of the national federation. He remained in the role for more than a decade, overseeing the federation’s administrative work during a prolonged period of service to the sport.

Before joining the FSF, Ciss was chief of staff to Sports Minister Joseph Ndong during the 2000s. He was also an inspector of popular education, youth and sport. His career extended beyond Senegalese football, with further responsibilities in sports administration at Senegalese, African and international levels.

Ciss was regarded by colleagues and associates as courteous, approachable, hardworking, loyal and discreet. Those qualities accompanied a career that linked public service with football management and placed him among the experienced officials who worked across Senegal’s sporting institutions. His death removes a former central figure from the federation’s administration and leaves the Senegalese football community mourning a long-serving official.