Senegal’s Muaythai journey has reached a defining moment. Under the visionary leadership of Muaythai President Papa Abdou Karim Diop, 2026 is already shaping up to be a historic year — from preparing to host the first-ever African Muaythai Championships in Dakar to celebrating the official approval of the country’s first university Muaythai club at Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD).

This milestone has been years in the making. The application to establish the UCAD Muaythai Club was first submitted in 2022. After a long and dedicated process, it has now been officially approved — and the timing could not be better as Senegal steps into the global spotlight.

UCAD: A Launchpad for Senegal’s Next Generation of Nak Muay

UCAD, Senegal’s largest and most influential university, is the perfect home for this historic first club. With students coming from every region — from major cities to the most remote villages — the impact of this initiative will ripple across the entire nation.

“At university, we also train the mind and body!”

The UCAD Muaythai Section offers:

  • Physical strength and conditioning
  • Focus, discipline, and stress management
  • Respect, resilience, and cultural pride
  • Community, teamwork, and leadership

Open to all students, the club invites young people to step into a journey of transformation.

A Vision Rooted in National Growth

President Papa Abdou Karim Diop has long championed the idea that universities are key to spreading Muaythai across Senegal. UCAD’s diverse student body makes it a powerful engine for national development.

As he explains:

“UCAD students come from all the cities of Senegal and even from the village funds, and after their studies they are in service for their work in several localities… so they will be able to serve as a relay to bring Muaythai to the cities and teach it in turn after training at UCAD.”

With the club now officially approved, this vision can finally take full shape.

Rising With the Spirit of the Dakar Youth Olympics

Senegal is buzzing with excitement as the world prepares for the Dakar Youth Olympic Games — the first Olympic event ever hosted on African soil. The energy, pride, and momentum surrounding the Youth Olympics are inspiring young people across the nation to dream bigger and aim higher.

The approval of the UCAD Muaythai Club aligns perfectly with this national movement. It embodies the same values the Youth Olympics champion: youth empowerment, education, inclusion, and the celebration of sport as a force for unity.

Senegal is preparing not just athletes, but leaders — the next generation of nak muay who will carry the spirit of Dakar onto the world stage.

Building Toward FISU Brazil

With the FISU World University Championships in Brazil approaching, the UCAD Muaythai Club becomes a vital training ground for Senegal’s university athletes. It will help identify talent, strengthen technical skills, and instill the values that define Muaythai globally.

For many students, this is the first step toward representing Senegal internationally.

A Continental Model for the Future

As Senegal prepares to host the African Championships and embraces the Youth Olympic spirit, it is positioning itself as a leader for Muaythai development across Africa. The UCAD initiative sets a powerful example for other nations seeking to integrate Muaythai into their educational systems.

This is more than a club. It is a movement. A legacy in motion.

A New Chapter Begins

The doors of the Dakar University Club Muaythai Section are now open — after four years of dedication, persistence, and belief. And with them, a pathway for thousands of young Senegalese to discover their potential.

From the classroom to the ring, from Dakar to Brazil, from student to champion… Senegal’s Muaythai future is bright, bold, and unstoppable.