2028 Olympics: The Senegal Lionesses in training camp in Thiès ahead of the double-header against Tunisia

The Senegal Lionesses began a training camp in Thiès on September 27, 2026, one week before their double-header against Tunisia for the second round of the qualifiers for the Los Angeles 2028 women's Olympic tournament. The gathering runs until October 4, reports the Senegalese sports media outlet Wiwsport, citing the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF).

Twenty-four players have been called up for this camp. The list heavily features the local league, with players from Aigles de la Médina, AS Dakar Sacré-Cœur, and AS Bambey. This choice speaks volumes about the rise of a women's league that long remained in the shadows, and the desire to build this national team using clubs from within the country.

Two matches to stay in the running

The first leg will be played on October 5, 2026, in Tunisia, and the return leg on October 13 in Senegal, according to Wiwsport. These are two matches to remain in the race for an Olympic tournament where spots reserved for the continent are rare, and where African teams must clear several rounds before even seeing the finish line.

The matchup also serves as a test between two different schools of thought. Tunisia, like Senegal, has invested in its women's national teams in recent years. The West Africa versus North Africa duel will therefore be played out on the pitch, far from the clichés that still too often reduce African women's football to a mere curiosity.

An Olympic autumn for Senegal

This event is part of an exceptionally busy season for Senegalese sports. Dakar is hosting the Youth Olympic Games from October 31 to November 13, 2026, the first Olympic Games organized on African soil. The Beach Soccer AFCON has been rescheduled for November 28 to December 6, 2026, in Senegal so as not to overlap with this event, notes Wiwsport.

For the Lionesses, the stakes go beyond qualification. Every visible campaign, every broadcast match, and every squad list dominated by locally trained players further builds the legitimacy of a discipline that demands resources commensurate with its results. The answer will begin to be written on October 5 in Tunis.