馃嚫馃嚦SenegalWest Africa
Croatia and Ghana seek World Cup qualification
via SeneNews3 min read
Croatia, currently third in Group L, needs at least a draw against Ghana in Philadelphia on Saturday to secure a spot in the World Cup Round of 16. A win would guarantee them at least second place, while a draw would keep them among the eight best third-placed teams. The Croatian team, led by Luka Modri膰, has one point less than the Black Stars 4 points. Modri膰, a 40-year-old AC Milan midfielder playing in his fifth World Cup, was substituted in the first two matches. Croatia lost 4-2 to England before a 1-0 win against Panama. Ghana, under coach Carlos Queiroz, drew 0-0 with England and won 1-0 against Panama. Queiroz emphasized the need for concentration and resilience, acknowledging Croatia's "magnificent and experienced players," including Modri膰. He also noted that finishing second in the group could mean playing in Toronto without Thomas Partey, who missed the England match due to visa issues related to sexual assault allegations. Meanwhile, England, leading Group L with four points, needs to secure a win against Panama to avoid depending on the outcome of the other match. Panama, with zero points, aims to end their World Cup campaign on a positive note. Arsenal midfielder Eberechi Eze stated that England plays with the intensity and passion of the Premier League. Harry Kane, England's top scorer, has two goals in the competition and hopes to add to his tally against Panama.
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Must ReadBurkina Faso's military regime announced on Friday, June 26, 2026, its decision to break diplomatic relations with France, effective immediately. The government cited "incessant activism" by the French regime against Burkina Faso's interests and "neocolonial ambitions" through active support for subversive networks and terrorists. Relations between Ouagadougou and the former colonial power have deteriorated since Captain Ibrahim Traor茅 came to power via a coup in September 2022. Since then, the military regime has pursued a sovereignist policy, which has been repressive towards critical voices and hostile to Westerners, particularly France. Paris expressed regret over the decision, calling it "hostile and unfounded," and stated that "necessary reciprocity measures are under consideration." The Burkinabe government emphasized that this decision exclusively targets the institutional framework of diplomatic relations between the two states and does not question the historical, human, cultural, and social ties between the Burkinabe and French peoples. It also affirmed its commitment to ensuring the protection of French nationals. Over 2,000 French nationals are registered in Burkina Faso, while more than 6,000 Burkinabe nationals live in France. In 2023, Burkina Faso demanded the recall of France's ambassador, terminated a military agreement with Paris, and secured the departure of the French army. The regime has also suspended several foreign media outlets, predominantly French,
Must ReadSenegal's Lions secured a decisive 5-0 victory against Iraq in the World Cup. Isma茂la Sarr, who scored his third goal of the tournament, commended his team's commitment and expressed optimism for qualification to the round of 16. Sarr highlighted the team's serious performance and the importance of improving goal difference for advancement. He stated, "It was a match we had to win, and we won. We wanted to score more goals, because you never know. So congratulations to the team. We did an excellent job today." Sarr is now the Lions' top scorer in the tournament with three goals. The Crystal Palace forward and his teammates are hopeful for a place in the round of 16 following this strong performance against Iraq, pending the results of other matches.
Must ReadIsma茂la Sarr has made history by becoming Senegal's all-time leading goal scorer in the World Cup. During the 2026 World Cup, Sarr scored his second goal against Iraq on Friday, June 26, 2026, in the third group stage match, bringing his total to four World Cup goals. This achievement surpasses the previous record held by Papa Bouba Diop, who had three goals. Sarr, an attacker for Crystal Palace, has scored three goals in the 2026 edition and one in 2022. In the current tournament, he has scored two goals against France and one against Iraq. He also provided an assist in the match against Iraq, making him the first Senegalese player to score a goal and deliver an assist in a single World Cup match. Overall, Sarr has contributed four offensive actions in the 2026 World Cup with three goals and one assist.