Stadium Snapshot
- Location Thiès (~70 km from Dakar)
- Capacity 8,712 (disputed, up to ~20,000)
- Surface Natural grass (FIFA-standard, 2021)
- Named after Lat Dior, last Damel of Cayor
- Primary use Senegal national team (secondary)
- Rehabilitation 1.85bn CFA (2019)
Stade Lat-Dior Capacity and Location
Stade Lat-Dior in Thiès carries a disputed capacity: Wikipedia lists 8,712 after individual seats were installed, while the stadium's own director gave a figure of 15,000 and pre-renovation standing crowds reached close to 20,000.
The ground sits in Thiès, Senegal's third city, roughly 70 to 80 kilometres east of Dakar. Its pitch was rebuilt to FIFA standard by Gregori International in 2021, a 30-day fast-track job done before the World Cup qualifiers. An earlier rehabilitation in 2019, costing 1.85 billion CFA francs, secured CAF approval but drew criticism over its price for a ground of this size.
It works as Senegal's secondary national venue, used when the Dakar grounds are unavailable, and Gambia has staged CHAN matches here. The opening of the 50,000-seat Stade Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio has since made that ground the country's main stadium.
Lat Dior: The Resistance King Behind the Name
The stadium takes its name from Lat Jor Ngoné Latyr Diop, the last Damel (king) of the Cayor kingdom, who fought French colonial expansion for years before he was killed at the Battle of Dékhélé in 1886.
Lat Dior resisted the French plan to drive a railway through his territory, the same kind of line that later turned Thiès into a hub. Streets, schools and this stadium across Senegal carry his name, and he remains one of the country's defining historical figures.
World Cup Qualifiers and Key Matches at Stade Lat-Dior
Stade Lat-Dior hosted Senegal's entire 2022 World Cup qualifying home campaign, four group-stage wins followed by the playoff against Egypt that the Lions of Teranga won on penalties to reach Qatar.
Senegal's home results in Thiès across recent qualifying cycles:
| Date | Event | Match | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Mar 2019 | AFCON qualifier | Senegal vs Madagascar | 2–0 |
| 2021 | WC 2022 group | Home wins vs Cape Verde, Namibia, Togo, Congo | 10 scored, 1 conceded |
| 29 Mar 2022 | WC 2022 playoff | Senegal vs Egypt | 1–0 (3–1 pens) |
| 24 Nov 2024 | AFCON 2025 qualifier | Senegal vs Burundi | 2–0 |
The playoff repeated the opponent and the penalty result from the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations final weeks earlier, when Senegal had also edged Egypt. Both runs ran through the wider Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifying calendar.
Historical Significance
Stade Lat-Dior in Thiès is named after Lat Jor Ngoné Latyr Diop, the last Damel of the Cayor kingdom and a leader of Senegalese resistance against French colonial rule, killed in 1886. The ground was developed as an alternative venue while the ageing Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor in Dakar declined and was later demolished. A 1.85 billion CFA rehabilitation secured CAF approval in 2019, and Gregori International rebuilt the pitch in 2021. Senegal played all their 2022 World Cup qualifying home matches here, capped by the penalty win over Egypt that reached Qatar, before the new Stade Abdoulaye Wade took over as the primary national stadium.
Renovated
2019 · 2021
Surface
Natural grass
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the capacity of Stade Lat-Dior?
Who is Lat Dior?
Where is Stade Lat-Dior located?
Does Senegal play at Stade Lat-Dior?
Related Pages
Last updated 2026-06-21.