Ibrahim Mbaye targets World Cup title with Senegal
via SeneNews1 min read
Paris Saint-Germain forward Ibrahim Mbaye has declared Senegal's ambition to win the World Cup, emphasizing total commitment in their final preparation match against Saudi Arabia. Mbaye, 18, is set to play in his first World Cup, having recently achieved success with his club. Former African Player of the Year El Hadji Diouf stressed the importance of teamwork for Mbaye. The Lions of Senegal, coached by Pape Thiaw, will face Saudi Arabia in San Antonio, Texas, following a 3-2 loss to the United States. This match is their last warm-up before their tournament opener on June 18 against France.
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Must ReadThe Court of Arbitration for Sport has scheduled a closed-door hearing for October 8, 2026, to definitively resolve the dispute over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title. This highly anticipated hearing could significantly impact the competition's outcome. Two potential scenarios are being considered: either Morocco's championship title is confirmed, or the decision made by the Confederation of African Football is overturned, and the title is re-awarded to Senegal. As the supreme judicial body for sports disputes, the Court of Arbitration for Sport will review all case elements before issuing its final decision, which is expected to conclude several months of contention surrounding the continental trophy's attribution. All attention remains on October 8, the date that could definitively determine the 2025 African champion.
Khadim Bamba Fall, a Pastef official, has responded to recent resignations within the party, stating that their impact is being exaggerated. He claims that despite media reports, the party remains stable and continues to attract new members. Fall highlighted that out of 21 ministers from Pastef, 18 have remained loyal to the party and its leader, Ousmane Sonko, with only three departing. He also asserted that the majority of general directors, board chairpersons, and other appointed officials are still committed to Pastef's directives. In the National Assembly, Fall indicated that 129 out of 130 deputies remain faithful to the party and Sonko. He further noted that the 46 departmental coordinations and hundreds of communal sections continue to support the current leadership, with less than 1% of communal coordinators having left their positions. Fall concluded that the number of publicized resignations is marginal compared to the party's overall size, and Pastef is still growing with many new members joining nationwide, estimating fewer than 50 known Pastef members have resigned while hundreds of thousands continue to join.
Senegalese midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye is reportedly close to signing with Saudi club Al-Diriyah, which was recently promoted to the first division. Gueye, 36, was out of contract with Everton and did not reach an agreement to extend his stay. Despite a challenging 2025-2026 season for Everton, finishing 13th in the Premier League, the club and coach David Moyes had hoped to retain the experienced player and two-time Africa Cup of Nations champion. However, discussions did not lead to a new deal, marking the end of Gueye's second stint with Everton. He played 236 matches for the club, bringing his Premier League total to 254. His career also includes time at LOSC, Aston Villa, and Paris Saint-Germain. According to the Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiyah, Gueye has agreed to a one-season contract with Al-Diriyah and is expected to travel to the Riyadh province soon to finalize the move. This transfer would see the most capped player in Senegalese national team history, with 136 appearances, join a growing contingent of Senegalese players in Saudi Arabia, including 脡douard Mendy at Al-Ahli, Kalidou Koulibaly at Al-Hilal, and Sadio Man茅 at Al-Nassr. Abdou Diallo, Abdoulaye Seck, and Malang Sarr also joined the Saudi league this summer, while Mamadou Sylla, Clayton Diandy, and Ibrahima Ndiaye have been playing there since last season.