
Iraq, a future opponent for Senegal in the 2026 World Cup, suffered a 2-0 defeat against Venezuela in their final preparation match held in Chicago. Despite strong support from their fans, the Iraqi team struggled to find its rhythm before the competition. Venezuela quickly took the lead in the 17th minute with a goal from Cristian Cásseres, following a corner and a poor clearance by goalkeeper Jalāl Hassan. Early in the second half, Jesús Ramírez extended Venezuela's lead in the 46th minute with a powerful left-footed shot after a defensive error, beating substitute goalkeeper Ahmad Basil. Iraq finished the match with 10 players after forward Ali Yousif was sent off in the 72nd minute for a foul on the Venezuelan goalkeeper, a decision that was heavily contested by the Iraqi side. The Lions of Mesopotamia had previously drawn 1-1 with reigning European champions Spain in their prior preparation match on June 4. Iraq is placed in Group I of the World Cup, alongside Norway, their first opponent on June 16, France, and Senegal.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
Must ReadFIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed regret over the United States' refusal of Somali referee Omar Artan, who was scheduled to officiate at the 2026 World Cup. Infantino stated, "It's unfortunate what happened to him, but we don't control everything," during a press conference in Mexico. Artan was turned away upon arrival at Miami International Airport, despite claiming to have a valid visa. The US State Department indicated that Artan was "linked to individuals suspected of belonging to terrorist organizations."
Must ReadThe Saint-Louis region has generated 39.6 billion FCFA from oil and gas activities, as reported in the 2024 EITI Report presented during a regional development committee meeting. This development is linked to the progressive start of operations for the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim GTA project, marking Senegal's entry into a new phase of hydrocarbon production. The year 2024 is seen by authorities as a major turning point for the extractive sector's transformation and repositioning within the national economy. Nationally, the extractive sector contributed 455.99 billion FCFA, with Saint-Louis accounting for nearly 8.7% of total revenues, remitting over 38 billion FCFA to the state budget. Thialy Faye, president of the National Committee of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative CN-EITI, highlighted the country's entry into a new economic phase. Al Hassan Sall, Governor of Saint-Louis, affirmed the region's strategic role in gas dynamics but emphasized the need to align this growth with local population needs. The report also noted a persistent weakness in local content, with regional companies conducting 7.2 billion FCFA in transactions with local suppliers compared to 23.8 billion FCFA with foreign partners. Thialy Faye advocated for strengthening local content to enable Saint-Louis companies to secure more markets and create jobs. Currently, the extractive sector generates only 207 jobs in the region, which is considered low given expectations from hydrocarbon exploitatio
Must ReadA collective of 100 civil society organizations and women's movements has urged Senegalese authorities to enhance female representation in decision-making bodies following the announcement of the new government's composition. In a statement released on June 4, 2026, in Dakar, the signatories expressed concern over the low proportion of women in the government, noting that only four women are among the thirty ministers, with two holding delegated ministerial positions. The organizations highlighted that no woman heads a sovereign ministry, which they find troubling given the qualifications and expertise of Senegalese women across all national sectors. They believe this representation is inconsistent with the country's demographic reality and Senegal's commitments to gender equality, as women constitute nearly half of the population and play a significant role in economic, social, and political spheres. The collective argues that women's participation in leadership roles is crucial for social justice and effective public action, advocating for inclusive governance through more balanced female representation. They recommend corrective measures to increase women's presence in ministerial and high public responsibilities, adherence to parity laws, and international commitments. The organizations also call for institutional mechanisms to ensure sustained female participation in political decision-making and to better value women's skills in strategic public administration sectors.