🇧🇫Burkina FasoWest Africa
Political figures comment on football and player nationality ahead of World Cup 2026
via Lefaso.net4 min read
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva recently made remarks about Neymar, suggesting the player is "teleworking" and implying he is selected based on popularity rather than talent. Lula, who previously served as president from 2003 to 2011 and again since 2023, also attempted to influence coach Carlo Ancelotti regarding player selection. These comments are seen as a veiled criticism of Neymar, who is popular on social media but has faced political opposition from Lula due to his support for Jair Bolsonaro in past elections. The article notes that Neymar was injured and in recovery, and that his political choices should not preclude him from playing football. Separately, Ousmane Sonko, President of the National Assembly of Senegal, commented on the upcoming France-Senegal match. He predicted a win for Senegal but added a "political comment" that regardless of the winner, "Africa wins." This statement refers to the African origins of some French players, which the article argues dismisses their French nationality and their conscious decision to play for France. The author compares Sonko's stance to that of far-right French politicians like Éric Zemmour, who question the Frenchness of the national team. The article highlights that many national teams, including Senegal and Morocco, feature numerous players born outside their respective countries, emphasizing that the ability for players to represent a country other than their birthplace enhances the World Cup. France, in
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