Coulibaly was technical manager of the CNOSS when the country won its first and only Olympic medal through 400 metres hurdler Amadou Dia Ba, who secured silver at the 1988 Games in Seoul, South Korea.

He died yesterday in Dakar after a long struggle with illness.

Coulibaly held many important roles within Senegalese and African sports, most notably becoming the first director of the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, home of the Senegal national football team, following its construction in 1985, before serving as director of the International Athletics Centre of Dakar and secretary general of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA).

He was also Director of the International Association of Athletics Federations' Regional Development Centre in Dakar and the High Performance Training Centre in Dakar before retiring.

Following his death, the CAA gave its "sincerest condolences" to the family of Coulibaly, adding: "The Confederation of African Athletics announces with deep sorrow the passing away of Mr Garang Coulibaly who was the former CAA secretary general.

"The CAA presents its sincere condolences to the bereaved family and joins in the mourning which strikes the African sports family."

Mamadou Koumé, sports journalist and President of the National Association of Sports of Senegal (ANPS), said "the press has lost its best source on the national sport".

He added: "Garang Coulibaly had detailed knowledge of the history [of]Senegalese sport.

"His death is a great loss.

"He has held several positions in the administration of sport in Senegal and at the continental level.

"He could give you the information or refer you to someone else [so you could] dig deeper."

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