Wrestling with Hope in Urban Senegal: Sports, Masculinity, and Precarious Trajectories

In Dakar, thousands of young men train daily on beaches, football pitches and sandy courtyards in pursuit of athletic success. Aspiring football players seek contracts in the lucrative leagues of the Global North, while hopeful wrestlers aim to captivate massive crowds as members of Senegal's beloved national sport. Despite their differences – (European) football's global appeal versus wrestling's traditional roots – both sports demand immense effort and come with high social costs. Wrestling with Hope follows the journeys of these precarious athletes as they confront the realities of their aspirations, grappling with themes of masculinity, belief systems and economic survival whilst navigating the complexities of a neoliberal landscape.