The venue change for the Confederation Cup second leg between Olympique Ngor and Hearts of Oak due to a wrestling event has sparked some controversy, particularly from Saer Seck, the president of the Ligue Pro. His frustration is understandable; moving the match away from the Demba Diop Stadium could have implications for the development of football in Senegal. The Demba Diop has historically been an iconic venue, and switching to Caroline Faye Stadium in Mbour at the last minute seems to undermine the stability and structure that football needs to thrive.
Seck’s criticism of wrestling’s scheduling clash with football is valid—wrestling is a hugely popular sport in Senegal, but football’s needs should arguably be prioritized when it comes to scheduling these significant international matches. His suggestion to move wrestling events to other days or venues could be a fair compromise, especially when both sports are so central to Senegal’s sporting culture.
As for the match itself, Olympique Ngor’s chances of qualifying are still alive, though trailing 1-2 after the first leg means they have a difficult but not impossible task. Seck’s belief in the team’s potential is encouraging. A 4-1 victory against Pikine in the league suggests that Ngor is in good form, and their resilience at home in Mbour could be a crucial factor.
