Death of former Senegalese wrestling champion Mbaye Guèye, the first Tiger of Fass
Senegal's National Wrestling Arena (Illustrative image).
© Pierre René-Worms / RFI
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
Senegal mourns this Saturday, August 7 the death of Mbaye Guèye, former wrestling champion aged 75.
He died at his home in Fass Mbao in the suburbs of Dakar on the night of Friday August 6 to Saturday August 7 following a long illness.
Called the first Tiger of Fass, he was one of the greatest wrestlers admired in the country.
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With our correspondent in Dakar,
Théa Ollivier
There is great emotion in Senegal following the death of former wrestler Mbaye Guèye.
The body of the first Tiger of Fass was lifted this Saturday, August 7 at the end of the morning.
He was taken to the city of Touba where he was buried in the afternoon.
"
He always managed to defeat his opponents
"
“
We lost a great champion of Senegalese wrestling
,” says Gaston Mbengue, the country's most important wrestling promoter.
He explains that he offered his condolences by phone to avoid gatherings during a pandemic.
But many of the players in the fight will travel to his home in the evening.
This is the case of Khalifa Niang, president of the Tayshinger team in Mbao, who recounts: “
Mbaye Guèye symbolized the temerity and the technicality of the fight, because he was not tall, but he always managed to defeat his adversaries
”.
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He was also recognized for having participated in the structuring of the fight with the creation of an association which brings together all the schools and stables of Senegal.
President Macky Sall paid tribute to the "
brave sportsman who, by his legendary bravery, has forever marked the Senegalese struggle
".
I am saddened to learn of the death of Mbaye Gueye, 1st tiger of Fass.
I pay tribute to a brave sportsman who, through his legendary bravery, has forever marked the Senegalese struggle.
My heartfelt condolences to his family as well as to the world of sport.
- Macky Sall (@Macky_Sall) August 7, 2021
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