
Five days before their opening match against Senegal in the 2026 World Cup, the French national team held their first training session on Thursday at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Arriving the day before in the United States, Didier Deschamps' players encountered demanding climatic conditions, with temperatures around 31°C. The 26 players selected for the World Cup participated in this initial session, which was open to the media for the first fifteen minutes. Senegal, who will face France next Tuesday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, observed an opponent already confronting a major challenge of this North American World Cup: managing the heat. Goalkeeper Brice Samba praised the quality of the facilities provided to the French team, describing them as "vast, large, beautiful facilities. We are really very comfortable." Defender Maxence Lacroix echoed this satisfaction, stating that the team has now fully entered the competition. Aware of the weather conditions awaiting them during the tournament, the French have begun adapting their preparation. Maxence Lacroix revealed that several meetings were held to anticipate the effects of the heat, while Brice Samba emphasized the importance of hydration. The French goalkeeper stated, "We must hydrate well. It's not the first time we'll play in the heat. We will adapt like all teams." Days before their match against Pape Thiaw's Lions, the French team appears focused on physical preparation and acclimatization, sending
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
Must ReadFollowing the launch of Kiiraay – Les Patriotes Républicains on July 25 in Dakar, Pastef is responding to defections and criticism. The party, led by Ousmane Sonko, president of the National Assembly, faces a new reality as the head of state now has his own party, and several Pastef members have joined it. Pastef is downplaying these departures, with the newspaper Yoor Yoor reporting "a few dozen resignations of personalities" while highlighting a "tidal wave" of new Pastef members. Pastef maintains a significant advantage in the National Assembly, controlling 130 out of 165 seats, which remains intact despite Kiiraay's creation. The name "Kiiraay" itself has become a point of contention. While Bassirou Diomaye Faye claims it means "protection" or "shield" in Wolof, other sources suggest it means "what is hidden or concealed," leading to mockery from Sonko's allies. The creation of Kiiraay also forces ministers close to Sonko to choose between joining the new presidential structure or remaining loyal to Pastef. This decision will indicate the power balance between the two executive leaders. Kiiraay plans a national tour and a congress after the rainy season. This political realignment creates three blocs: Kiiraay, Pastef, and Macky Sall's APR, potentially leading to early legislative elections.

The Embassy of the Republic of Guinea in Dakar, which also covers Gambia, Mauritania, and Cape Verde, has announced a general increase in visa and residency card fees, effective August 1, 2026. This revision follows a circular note from the Guinean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, and Guineans Abroad, dated July 9. The new tariffs include an entry visa at $100, a transit visa at $50, a transshipment visa at $50, an extension visa at $100, and a long-stay visa at $500. Residency cards for African nationals outside ECOWAS will cost $200, while those for resident foreigners and workers will be $500. The embassy clarified that biometric passport fees remain unchanged. All applications for an entry visa to the Republic of Guinea must be submitted through the official electronic platform, paf.gov.gn/visa, as visas are no longer issued directly on passports.

Amadou Ba, a Pastef deputy, has openly criticized the government's management and its adherence to electoral deadlines, citing what he perceives as economic and political threats to Senegal. Ba's remarks follow a statement by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, interpreted by many as a jab at Ousmane Sonko, which Ba has now turned back on the President. Ba identified two main threats to Senegal's stability and good governance. The first, termed "economic fitna," involves entrusting public management to individuals previously accused of economic predation, while simultaneously blocking accountability for beneficiaries of hidden debt in favor of political opportunism. The second, labeled "political fitna," refers to subordinating the constitutional electoral calendar to calculations favoring a single political party, attempting to eliminate opponents by labeling them as violent, and imposing reconciliation without justice or reparations on victims of political repression, a practice he likens to the former regime.