🇸🇳SenegalWest Africa
Norway observes Senegal's training ahead of 2026 World Cup qualifier
via SeneNews1 min read
Norwegian journalists were seen observing Senegal's training session at Rutgers University ahead of their decisive 2026 World Cup match. The Norwegian press meticulously documented the session, indicating the importance they place on the upcoming game. Meanwhile, Senegalese diaspora supporters, particularly the 12th Gaïndé USA, showed strong support for their national team. Separately, discussions continued regarding ticket distribution for the match. Initially, 25 associations were to receive tickets, but this was expanded to 37 after diplomatic efforts, leading to reduced quotas and some frustration among supporters. Of the remaining 230 tickets, 12th Gaïndé USA ceded 30 to the Allez Casa group, and 20 were reserved for guests of the consulate and ambassador, highlighting the high demand for the Senegal-Norway encounter.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
Must ReadIn Koussan, Senegal, administrative expulsions have caused concern among residents, many of whom were declared foreign nationals despite living in the area for generations. What began as an administrative control operation has evolved into a complex situation with human, legal, and political ramifications. Several residents were forcibly removed from Senegalese territory and taken to the Malian border, only to return to their village days later. Families and local populations strongly dispute the classification of these individuals as foreign nationals, asserting they were born, raised, and have lived in Koussan for multiple generations. The operation, conducted last week, proved ineffective as those expelled reportedly found no reception points on the Malian side and chose to return to their ancestral village. This mass return raises questions about the legal basis of the expulsions. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and the Forum du Justiciable, have condemned the actions, citing potential violations of international conventions ratified by Senegal concerning protection against arbitrary expulsions and the right to nationality. The situation has also taken a judicial turn, with the village chief of Koussan reportedly summoned by the Goudiry gendarmerie and threats of legal action against residents who challenged the measure. Me Cire Clédor Ly has reportedly been entrusted with the defense of those affected.
Ahead of their second Group I match in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Norway, Senegal's coach Pape Thiaw is expected to largely retain the same starting lineup that played in their 3-1 defeat to France. This decision reflects the technical staff's desire for continuity despite the initial loss. Édouard Mendy is set to remain in goal. The defense will likely feature Kalidou Koulibaly and Moussa Niakhaté as center-backs, with Krépin Diatta on the right and El Hadji Malick Diouf on the left. The midfield trio of Idrissa Gana Gueye, Pape Gueye, and Lamine Camara is anticipated to start. In attack, Sadio Mané, Nicolas Jackson, and Ismaila Sarr are expected to lead the line, maintaining consistency despite concerns about offensive effectiveness in the previous game.
Must ReadThe Senegalese National Assembly is set to examine a crucial bill on limiting presidential terms, a proposal validated during the recent meeting of the Conference of Presidents. This reform, championed by the Pastef majority, aims to enshrine strict rules within the preamble of the Constitution. The executive, supported by the Pastef majority, intends to further solidify the principle of presidential term limits. According to the explanatory memorandum, this provision is considered an intangible principle, designed to prevent its challenge by future ordinary constitutional revisions. A key innovation of the project is its inclusion in the constitutional preamble, which dedicates the intangible nature of rules concerning the duration and number of presidential terms. This wording seeks to give these rules superior value, making their modification particularly difficult, if not impossible, within the classical institutional framework. Proponents of the text view this approach as a means of democratic consolidation, aiming to strengthen institutional stability and prevent any attempts to prolong power at the highest level of the state, a recurring theme in Senegalese political discourse.