
Preparation for the U17 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to take place in Morocco from May 13 to June 2, 2026, has officially begun. The Senegalese Football Federation FSF has released an initial list of 26 players selected for the national U17 team training camp. Under the guidance of Lamine Sané, the young players will gather for a boarding camp from April 20 to April 23, 2026, at the Jules François Bocandé Technical Development Center in Toubab Dialaw. This camp is a crucial step in forming the team that will represent Senegal in the continental tournament, which is important for future global competitions in this category. The FSF is committed to ensuring optimal preparation for a promising performance at the U17 AFCON.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
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Must ReadThe International Monetary Fund IMF announced it will send a mission to Senegal to continue technical discussions with authorities on the country's economic and financial situation. According to Julie Kozack, Director of the IMF's Communications Department, a team is expected in Dakar during the week of June 15. These technical discussions aim to achieve a common understanding of macroeconomic perspectives, Senegal's financing needs, and its reform priorities. The IMF also stated that these exchanges should address the vulnerability of Senegalese debt and that the institution remains engaged in discussions with authorities regarding their request for a new cooperation program. This announcement follows recent changes at the head of the state, with former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko now serving as President of the National Assembly. Ousmane Sonko recently reiterated his opposition to a potential debt restructuring, stating he discussed the matter with the President of the Republic, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who assured him that neither he nor the Minister of Finance, Cheikh Diba, had made commitments to the IMF for debt restructuring. Sonko indicated he would remain vigilant on the issue. In May, Minister of Finance Cheikh Diba explained that discussions with the IMF required more time, as the institution was taking a cautious approach following the "misreporting" of economic data. The Senegalese government and the IMF are continuing their exchanges to find common ground on fina

Cheikh Diba officially took office on Thursday, June 4, 2026, as the Minister of Economy, Finance, and Planning. This appointment follows the merger of the Ministry of Economy and Planning, and the Ministry of Finance and Budget, a decision made during the recent government reshuffle. He succeeds Abdourahmane Sarr, while Diba himself leaves his former position as Minister of Finance and Budget to lead this new strategic department. The handover ceremony took place in a relaxed atmosphere at the Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Cooperation, which will now operate under a new name. During the solemn meeting, the outgoing minister, Abdourahmane Sarr, presented his achievements, focusing on the implementation of a sovereignty policy. Sarr reflected positively on his tenure despite a tense national economic context, highlighting Senegal's ingenuity in meeting strict demands. His work in theorizing and implementing economic sovereignty was also acknowledged by his colleagues present at the handover. Sarr stated that the ceremony was a normal step in the life of a state, emphasizing that "the projects do not belong to me; they belong to Senegal." Abdourahmane Sarr also expressed satisfaction with the re-establishment of the Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Planning, believing that this merger will facilitate synergy and a coherent, constant dynamic. For his part, the incoming minister, Cheikh Diba, accompanied by his new collaborators Allé Nar Diop and Bassirou Sarr, responsible

The French national team will play Ivory Coast in Nantes on Thursday, marking the first of two preparation matches for the 2026 World Cup. This game offers coach Didier Deschamps an opportunity to assess his squad, and Kylian Mbappé a chance to potentially surpass Olivier Giroud's goal-scoring record for France. The match against the 2024 AFCON winners will serve as a preliminary test for the French team, who are set to depart for their Boston base camp next week. While definitive conclusions might be difficult to draw due to players' concerns about injuries, Deschamps expects full commitment from his team as the countdown to their World Cup opener against Senegal on June 16 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, begins. The squad is still gelling, with some players having joined training only recently. Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, and William Saliba, who participated in the Champions League final, are expected to be rested. Saliba is also dealing with a back issue. The other three Champions League finalists, Bradley Barcola, Lucas Hernandez, and Warren Zaïre-Emery, might see some playing time. Deschamps stated he would manage the playing time of the six players involved in the Champions League final, especially those who started the match, considering their physical and psychological state. Saliba's absence could lead to a Dayot Upamecano-Ibrahima Konaté partnership in central defense against Ivory Coast's young attackers. Kylian Mbappé, who had a trophy-less season with Real Madr