ALEXANDRE
WHAT’S IT TO YA?
July 27, 2026
Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic is one of Canada’s top young soccer journalists, with a passion for the game shaped by his Senegalese roots. From playing football during childhood visits to Senegal to celebrating the country’s first AFCON title from his dorm room, his connection to the Lions of Teranga runs deep. We chopped it up about culture, community and what supporting Senegal means to him.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What was it like growing up in a Senegalese family and learning about that side of your culture?
Yeah, I mean, Senegalese culture is very present. It’s a very welcoming culture. The team, obviously, is called the Lions of Teranga, and I say that just because Teranga is everywhere in Senegal. I went there for the first time when I was eight. It was just such a welcoming place for me, as a youngster, to go with my dad.
Obviously, football was everywhere. We would play every day. It gave me a certain love that I didn’t realize was possible—just how much they loved the game. Combining that with how welcoming things are, growing up in that environment meant being nice to others and always offering that hospitality. Football was always tied into it, along with other parts of the culture, like food and learning how good the food is in Senegal.
Getting the chance to open my eyes to that other culture has been great, and it’s been great to share because that’s a big part of Senegalese culture.
What is your earliest memory of cheering for the Senegal national team?
My first memory of watching the team probably would have been the 2017 AFCON. The team had kind of come out of some lean years. Sadio Mané was a superstar, and the team made a run to the quarterfinals. The next year, they ended up going to the World Cup. It was obviously super special.
So, kind of that 2017–2018 era. I’d followed the team closely before—or tried to. You know, in the FIFA World Cup 2010 [video game], I would put them in the game and try to win, but they weren’t very good. But definitely the later half of that generation, from 2017 onwards.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What was it like growing up in a Senegalese family and learning about that side of your culture?
Yeah, I mean, Senegalese culture is very present. It’s a very welcoming culture. The team, obviously, is called the Lions of Teranga, and I say that just because Teranga is everywhere in Senegal. I went there for the first time when I was eight. It was just such a welcoming place for me, as a youngster, to go with my dad.
Obviously, football was everywhere. We would play every day. It gave me a certain love that I didn’t realize was possible—just how much they loved the game. Combining that with how welcoming things are, growing up in that environment meant being nice to others and always offering that hospitality. Football was always tied into it, along with other parts of the culture, like food and learning how good the food is in Senegal.
Getting the chance to open my eyes to that other culture has been great, and it’s been great to share because that’s a big part of Senegalese culture.
What is your earliest memory of cheering for the Senegal national team?
My first memory of watching the team probably would have been the 2017 AFCON. The team had kind of come out of some lean years. Sadio Mané was a superstar, and the team made a run to the quarterfinals. The next year, they ended up going to the World Cup. It was obviously super special.
So, kind of that 2017–2018 era. I’d followed the team closely before—or tried to. You know, in the FIFA World Cup 2010 [video game], I would put them in the game and try to win, but they weren’t very good. But definitely the later half of that generation, from 2017 onwards.
What are one or two of your favourite memories of supporting Senegal?
Yeah, I mean, the first one for me, 100%, would be the 2021 AFCON. I think it was played in ’22. Obviously, Senegal’s first star—winning that for the first time. That one was just super special because, in 2019, the team came so close. The team was phenomenal and made a run to the final, but in the final, it just wasn’t their day. Algeria scored a bit of a fluky goal, and they just didn’t have it that day. That’s football.
So, for the team to bounce back two years later and play unreal in 2021, then go up against Mo Salah and Egypt in the final—with how it was with Sadio Mané—genuinely, when that Sadio Mané penalty went in, I cried. Like, genuinely.
I was in my dorm room in Toronto. I had a crazy day leading up to it. I broke my laptop unintentionally, so I had to rush to fix it so I could watch the game. And yeah, when Sadio Mané put that penalty in, I just started tearing up, which was surprising to me. I’m always super proud and super emotional, but it showed what the team meant to me and what that game really represented.
So, that for me is number one. From there, the World Cup is always super special for me. AFCON is a great tournament—I love it—but there’s something about being there on the world stage, with everyone watching and playing the big teams.
I really loved that 2018 World Cup because, obviously, that was Senegal’s first one since ’02. I was two years old in 2002, so I didn’t remember it. To have those conscious memories and wear the kit that I’d ordered in time for the tournament was super special too.
Yeah, I mean, the first one for me, 100%, would be the 2021 AFCON. I think it was played in ’22. Obviously, Senegal’s first star—winning that for the first time. That one was just super special because, in 2019, the team came so close. The team was phenomenal and made a run to the final, but in the final, it just wasn’t their day. Algeria scored a bit of a fluky goal, and they just didn’t have it that day. That’s football.
So, for the team to bounce back two years later and play unreal in 2021, then go up against Mo Salah and Egypt in the final—with how it was with Sadio Mané—genuinely, when that Sadio Mané penalty went in, I cried. Like, genuinely.
I was in my dorm room in Toronto. I had a crazy day leading up to it. I broke my laptop unintentionally, so I had to rush to fix it so I could watch the game. And yeah, when Sadio Mané put that penalty in, I just started tearing up, which was surprising to me. I’m always super proud and super emotional, but it showed what the team meant to me and what that game really represented.
So, that for me is number one. From there, the World Cup is always super special for me. AFCON is a great tournament—I love it—but there’s something about being there on the world stage, with everyone watching and playing the big teams.
I really loved that 2018 World Cup because, obviously, that was Senegal’s first one since ’02. I was two years old in 2002, so I didn’t remember it. To have those conscious memories and wear the kit that I’d ordered in time for the tournament was super special too.
This World Cup, you finally had the opportunity to watch Senegal play in person. What did it mean to see your country—and a team that represents you—on that stage?
Yeah, it was special because, man, I’ve been watching them for over half my life, and every time, it has always been on TV, whatever the circumstance. So, for that to be my first game at a World Cup, within a few hours of my house, was incredibly special.
Just showing up at the stadium and seeing other Senegalese people was super surreal because, obviously, there’s not a huge community here. When I’m going to games or watch parties, I’m often not surrounded by a lot of Senegalese people. So, that was cool. We were shaking hands, taking pictures together and dancing. It was just super special.
Seeing the team in person was also super cool. Seeing these great players represent the team so well, fight and play in such a big game. So, I’d say it was definitely full circle, but I really gained a lot of appreciation for what happened off the field, personally, for me.
Yeah, it was special because, man, I’ve been watching them for over half my life, and every time, it has always been on TV, whatever the circumstance. So, for that to be my first game at a World Cup, within a few hours of my house, was incredibly special.
Just showing up at the stadium and seeing other Senegalese people was super surreal because, obviously, there’s not a huge community here. When I’m going to games or watch parties, I’m often not surrounded by a lot of Senegalese people. So, that was cool. We were shaking hands, taking pictures together and dancing. It was just super special.
Seeing the team in person was also super cool. Seeing these great players represent the team so well, fight and play in such a big game. So, I’d say it was definitely full circle, but I really gained a lot of appreciation for what happened off the field, personally, for me.
If you could interview any Senegalese player, past or present, who would it be, and what would you want to discuss with them?
I mean, if we’re going simple, I think you’d want to say Sadio Mané, right? Just because the guy put so much into Senegal.
I think, for a lot of top African players, there have always been questions of how committed are they to their countries and their teams? Are they going to turn away from responsibility? I just loved the way he represented Senegal.
It didn’t matter if it was an AFCON qualifier away to Madagascar—he would start and play 90 minutes. Then he showed up in the big games, right? He helped win the first AFCON. He helped win a second AFCON. He was there in the World Cups. Even with the heartbreak of ’22, when he missed the tournament, he recovered to come back for ’26. I just love the commitment and drive he had.
So, I would say Sadio first, but I will shout out some of the new generation. I’d love to talk to a guy like Ibrahim Mbaye. This kid is 17. He’s already played in AFCON and already played at a World Cup. The guy has won a Champions League with PSG. This guy could go play for France, and he chose Senegal.
What does that mean for this next generation of players? What went into that decision? Was it because of the work done by players like Sadio Mané? So, maybe if I were to cheat, I’d get both of them side by side—the OG and then the next generation.
I mean, if we’re going simple, I think you’d want to say Sadio Mané, right? Just because the guy put so much into Senegal.
I think, for a lot of top African players, there have always been questions of how committed are they to their countries and their teams? Are they going to turn away from responsibility? I just loved the way he represented Senegal.
It didn’t matter if it was an AFCON qualifier away to Madagascar—he would start and play 90 minutes. Then he showed up in the big games, right? He helped win the first AFCON. He helped win a second AFCON. He was there in the World Cups. Even with the heartbreak of ’22, when he missed the tournament, he recovered to come back for ’26. I just love the commitment and drive he had.
So, I would say Sadio first, but I will shout out some of the new generation. I’d love to talk to a guy like Ibrahim Mbaye. This kid is 17. He’s already played in AFCON and already played at a World Cup. The guy has won a Champions League with PSG. This guy could go play for France, and he chose Senegal.
What does that mean for this next generation of players? What went into that decision? Was it because of the work done by players like Sadio Mané? So, maybe if I were to cheat, I’d get both of them side by side—the OG and then the next generation.
What is the Senegal national team to you?
Yeah, I mean, for me, it’s like a part of your heart, you know? It’s a homeland. It’s a sort of connection you can’t really explain.
Just having been there and always having had that Senegalese culture around me—whenever they play, whenever I’m wearing that kit, it feels like you’re part of it. So, I would really say that, yeah, it’s that part of the heart.
For those 90 minutes, even if I’m not playing, I feel like I’m a lion. I feel like that Teranga is in me. The heart rate is up. Everything changes for 90 minutes, and at the end, you hope you get to celebrate.
Yeah, I mean, for me, it’s like a part of your heart, you know? It’s a homeland. It’s a sort of connection you can’t really explain.
Just having been there and always having had that Senegalese culture around me—whenever they play, whenever I’m wearing that kit, it feels like you’re part of it. So, I would really say that, yeah, it’s that part of the heart.
For those 90 minutes, even if I’m not playing, I feel like I’m a lion. I feel like that Teranga is in me. The heart rate is up. Everything changes for 90 minutes, and at the end, you hope you get to celebrate.
Photos & Interview: Tagwa Moyo
