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The future national stadium is expected to cost $258 million, with construction work awarded to the Turkish company Summa.

The "Stade du Sénégal" will comprise a football pitch in line with FIFA norms, two training areas and an athletics track. A military riding school for the equestrian will be updated, as will the Stade National Ibe Mar Diop. Other major infrastructure projects have to be completed before the games are able to take place. This includes the Athletes’ Village being constructed in Diamniadio.

News of the development will undoubtedly thrill the International Olympic Committee (IOC).  When preparations for 'Dakar 2022' were debated at the IOC Session in March in Lausanne, Coordination Commission chairman Kirsty Coventry served notice that it was "now essential the Organising Committee is being committed to fully dedicate resources to drive this project further." She added: “It is equally important funding committed by the Government be released in the next few weeks to ensure this new structure operates with adequate resources."

African Youth Day falls on November 1. The first Olympic event in Africa will take place from October 22 until November 9 instead of May or June which was initially announced. The youth event will be avoiding critical exam dates for juniors. The dates for the Games fall outside the rainy season in Dakar, which lasts 3 months starting in June and ending in September.

Photo: USA and Senegal teams during 2019 FIFA U17 World Cup (Tekteu/Wikimedia Commons)