Mboup and Seyck: A Dynamic Duo Leading Senegal's Women's Futsal Team
As a new chapter in African women's football history unfolds, Senegal is preparing to compete in the very first Women's Africa Futsal Cup of Nations. This marks a pivotal moment for a sport still seeking recognition across the continent. Among the ambitious teams in this venture, Senegal is emerging as a serious contender, led by a coaching duo with deep roots in Senegalese football: Mamadou Lamine Mboup, head coach of the women’s futsal team, and his assistant, Aïssata Seyck.
Both coming from the 11-a-side football world, they understand the demands of top-level competition. Aïssata Seyck, former captain of the Lionnes de la Teranga, has left an indelible mark on the history of Senegalese women's football before transitioning into coaching. Her experience and natural leadership are invaluable assets to this new adventure. Alongside her, Mamadou Lamine Mboup, former Senegal international, draws on his playing experience and tactical expertise to build a competitive team capable of competing with the continent’s best.
In this exclusive interview, they share their thoughts on the challenges of this inaugural AFCON, their vision for the development of women's futsal in Africa, and the hurdles their team faces.
CAFOnline.com: How do you feel about participating in the first Women's Africa Futsal Cup of Nations?
Aïssata Seyck: It is an immense honour for me. I was an international for nearly 10-15 years with the 11-a-side national football team, and today, being able to represent my country in another discipline fills me with pride.
Mamadou Lamine, how would you describe Aïssata as your assistant?
Mamadou Lamine Mboup: She is a very intelligent person. She quickly grasped the specifics of futsal, particularly its technicalities and tactical intelligence. She knows how to pass on the technical aspects of the game to the players.
Aïssata Seyck: It’s a new experience for me, as I’ve always been the head coach. But I’m learning a great deal alongside Coach Mboup. He is a major figure in Senegalese football, and I’m discovering more advanced aspects of technical and tactical work with him.
CAFOnline.com: Both of you come from 11-a-side football. What would you say is the main difference between futsal and outdoor football?
Mamadou Lamine Mboup: Futsal doesn’t allow for any rest! Unlike 11-a-side football, where sometimes you can afford to slow down, here, everything happens very quickly. The transitions are constant, and the intensity is much higher. It’s a game where speed of execution and precision are crucial. A player who excels in futsal can do very well in 11-a-side football due to the technical skills they develop.
Aïssata Seyck: Yes, I totally agree. Futsal is much more focused on technical skills than 11-a-side football. You can find some similarities in smaller-sided games, but here, everything is amplified: decisions are faster, and the space is smaller, requiring high technical proficiency.
CAFOnline.com: How do you collaborate on the pitch in your respective roles?
Mamadou Lamine Mboup: Our collaboration is based on great cohesion. We work together on the technical aspects and the preparation of the players. Each of us brings our speciality. It’s a fluid relationship, like Siamese twins moving in the same direction.
Aïssata Seyck: Exactly. I work a lot with him on the technical aspects. He makes the final decisions, but he consults me often. There is a real exchange between us, and that’s what makes our duo complementary.
Mamadou Lamine Mboup: I also want to say that I fully trust her. When I give her drills to implement, she executes them perfectly. We have a harmonious approach where everyone contributes to the bigger picture.
CAFOnline.com: What is your wish for the development of women’s futsal in Africa?
Mamadou Lamine Mboup: We want to see futsal become structured and developed in every African country. This sport has existed on the continent for a long time, but it’s never been properly organised. Yet, as children, many young Africans already played a form of futsal in the streets, on small fields with makeshift goals.
Today, Uruguay, one of the pioneers of futsal, has shown the way, and it’s time for Africa to follow. With proper organisation, well-structured national leagues, and genuine investment, futsal could attract a large following and compete with local football.
In fact, the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal have included futsal in their programme. This is a golden opportunity to structure the sport and give it the momentum it deserves. Senegal must seize this chance, especially as the first Women’s Futsal World Cup is scheduled for November-December this year.
CAFOnline.com: What would participating in this World Cup mean to you? What impact would it have for Senegal?
Mamadou Lamine Mboup: It would be an immense achievement! We have a big challenge ahead. This AFCON is the first of its kind in African women's futsal, and we have the responsibility to represent our country well.
If we win this first edition, we could make history by becoming the first nation to have its name on the trophy. It would also be a direct qualification for the World Cup, and a huge source of pride for Senegal.
Moreover, if we manage this, it would mean Senegal has won continental titles in all football disciplines: beach soccer, 11-a-side football, and futsal. We would be the first country in the world to achieve such a feat!
We know we have talented players, ready to compete with the best teams on the continent. And if we make it to the World Cup, why not aim even higher and dream of a world title by the end of the year?
