Baseball 5: eight Cubs for a historic challenge October 29, 2026

For the Senegalese Baseball and Softball Federation, “Dakar 2026” is of particular importance: Baseball5 will make its debut at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG). Eight teams representing four continents will participate in this inaugural competition, including Senegal, which will find Cuba, Turkey and Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) in Group A.

The baseball and softball tournament will take place from October 30 to November 3, 2026 at the Tour de l’Œuf complex. Turkey and Cuba will open the competition on October 30 at 10 a.m., before Senegal enters the competition against Chinese Taipei. In Group B, the Syrian Arab Republic will face Mexico, while Kenya will face France. The Cubs will then meet Cuba on October 31, then Turkey on November 1. The quarter-finals and semi-finals are scheduled for November 2, before the classification matches and medal matches on November 3. Baseball5 will thus be the first discipline to enter the competition for the “Dakar 2026” YOG, the opening ceremony of which is scheduled for October 31.

For this first participation, Senegal will have eight athletes: Yacine Dione, Ndeye Ba, Mame Fatou Ngom, Haby Diack, El Hadji Moussa Diagne, Babacar Diouf, Pape Bouba Diouf and Alassane Diallo.

This selection rewards the work accomplished by the national committee for the promotion of the discipline. As the Olympic Games approach, the CNP has set about putting together a competitive team. “Our goal was to allow all Senegalese people to know Baseball5, but also to make it a community sport. We are also moving towards a multifunctional baseball and softball center which will bring together young people and allow this discipline to be better developed. We did detection days, we participated in Olympic Day and now we are ready for the Olympic Games,” declared Amadou Kabirou Mbodj, president of the Senegalese Baseball and Softball Federation.

Launched internationally in 2017, this urban version of baseball is distinguished by its simplicity: without a bat or glove, players hit a soft rubber ball with their hand. Two mixed teams of five players compete on a small field, each made up of three girls and two boys, or vice versa.

Fast and requiring little equipment, Baseball5 can be played in different spaces, notably schools and urban spaces. It favors coordination, creativity and collective play. “Dakar 2026” will mark an important milestone for this discipline, which will make its YOG debut in a mixed five-on-five format.

Absa NDONG