Dakar’s historic club Jeanne d’Arc gets a new leader, and she knows the house well.
When Oumou Kalsoum Touré steps onto the court at Jeanne d’Arc today, it’s not in a jersey. It’s as President. Last week, the Dakar basketball institution announced the appointment of the former Senegalese international as the new President of its basketball section. For Touré, it’s a full-circle moment. This is the same club where she first picked up a ball as a young player.
A Lionne’s Journey
Born with basketball in her blood, Oumou Kalsoum Touré quickly rose through the ranks in Senegal. At 1.90m, she made her name as a tough interior player and earned her place with the national team, the “Lionnes.”
She was part of the squad that won AfroBasket Women 2015 and represented Senegal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Her club career then took her across Europe and beyond: France, Poland, Turkey, Israel, Switzerland, and Italy. Wherever she went, she carried the Senegalese flag with pride.
But Touré always planned for life after basketball.While still playing professionally, she trained in Lyon and became a certified sports recovery massage therapist. It was a skill she developed after noticing the gap in player care during national team camps.
Coming Home to JAD
Jeanne d’Arc de Dakar is more than a club. Founded in 1923, it’s one of the oldest and most respected sports institutions in Senegal. It’s where legends are made. And it’s where Oumou Kalsoum Touré took her first steps.Now she returns, not as a player, but to lead.
As President of the basketball section, her mission is clear: professionalize the structure, develop youth talent, and bring JAD back to the top of Senegalese basketball.
With her experience as a high-level athlete and her background in athlete welfare, Touré brings a rare combination to the role. She understands performance, but she also understands people.
From the playgrounds of Dakar to the Olympic stage, and now back to the JA boardroom — Oumou Kalsoum Touré’s story is still being written.And this next chapter might be her most important one yet.
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Nadia Diallo
Images credit Makhfou