In an exclusive interview with MASTKD at the Paris-Levallois 2026 Grand Prix, the African Taekwondo Union Secretary General discussed expanding opportunities for athletes across the continent. More competitions, education, inclusion and a stronger voice in international decision-making underpin his vision, with Dakar 2026 offering a historic opportunity.

Speaking exclusively to MASTKD during the Paris-Levallois 2026 Grand Prix, Dieye outlined his assessment of African Taekwondo’s development and the work he believes is needed to sustain it.

His message connects the expansion of the continental competition calendar with youth development, Para Taekwondo and African participation in World Taekwondo’s decision-making structures.

A Story MASTKD Has Followed Since His Competitive Career

The conversation revisits a journey MASTKD has followed for more than a decade.

In an exclusive interview published in 2012, Dieye discussed his international training programme, the financial pressures of competing and the difficulty of securing an Olympic place. He described his bronze medal at the Copenhagen 2009 World Championships as one of the most rewarding moments of his career.

He also spoke candidly about the obstacles athletes face. Reflecting on the difficulty of continuing in the sport, he told MASTKD, in remarks translated from the Spanish-language article:

“Sometimes your mind does not have the strength, or you do not have money to train.”

— Balla Dieye, speaking to MASTKD in 2012.

Fourteen years later, those concerns provide a meaningful backdrop to his work in sports administration.

MASTKD reported in 2023 on his appointment as Sports Director for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Having competed at Rio 2016, Dieye explained that his experience would help him understand what athletes need, while identifying the Games’ legacy for Senegal and Africa as a central responsibility.

More Competitions, More Opportunities

Dieye identified the geographical expansion of competitions as an important development for African Taekwondo.

According to his assessment, international events were previously concentrated in a small number of countries. Today, more national federations are involved in hosting competitions, creating additional opportunities for athletes to gain experience within the continent.

He nevertheless acknowledged continuing barriers, including visa difficulties and the expense of travelling abroad.

The approach he described involves strengthening African opens and competitions organised across the continent’s zones, with pathways towards larger events.

For Dieye, competitive experience must accompany training. Asked about the challenge of facing the world’s strongest nations, he emphasised preparation and consistent access to competition.

“You need to plan. You need to practice. You need to go to a competition.”

— Balla Dieye, in his exclusive interview with MASTKD at Paris-Levallois 2026.

His argument is that African athletes have the potential to challenge established opponents, provided they have the opportunities to prepare and develop.

Dakar 2026: A Legacy Beyond the Host Country

The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games hold a central place in that vision.

Dieye described the event as an opportunity for the entire continent, with a legacy extending beyond the competition itself. Infrastructure, organisational experience and education all form part of what he hopes the Games will leave behind.

He highlighted training camps in Senegal involving participants from different African countries. The intention, he explained, is for those participants to return home and share the knowledge and practices they have acquired.

A concrete example is Tening Faye, who won bronze in the women’s −44 kg division at the Fujairah 2025 World Taekwondo Cadet Championships. World Taekwondo documented her participation in the preceding Olympic Solidarity camp in Dakar and recognised her as Senegal’s first World Cadet Championships medallist.

Dieye also pointed to Senegal’s experience hosting the Dakar 2023 Grand Prix Challenge as evidence of the continent’s capacity to stage international events. The competition is recorded in the African Taekwondo Union’s event archive.

Taekwondo Dakar 2026: IOC removes qualification tournament and centralizes quota allocation

Access and affordability also feature in the wider framework for the upcoming Games. As MASTKD previously reported in English, Dakar 2026 will not have a separate Taekwondo qualification tournament organised by the international federation. The participation framework prioritises universality, continental representation, strong African participation, sporting performance and gender equality.

Inclusion and a Voice in International Decisions

Dieye included Para Taekwondo among the priorities for continental development. He expressed confidence that greater activity and improved preparation opportunities could help African athletes achieve more international podium finishes.

On governance, he stressed the importance of African representation on the World Taekwondo Council and its commissions.

In his view, participation in those structures provides an opportunity to communicate the continent’s needs and contribute to decisions affecting its athletes and federations.

He also highlighted cooperation with other continental unions, including learning from their programmes and adapting useful practices to African circumstances.

At the end of the interview, Dieye acknowledged MASTKD’s role in sharing African Taekwondo’s work with an international audience and invited the outlet to experience the continent’s activity and hospitality firsthand.

The discussion offers a clear connection with the competitor MASTKD interviewed in 2012. The challenges he knew as an athlete remain visible in the priorities he now expresses as an administrator: helping the next generation find more opportunities to move forward.

About The Author