🇸🇳SenegalWest Africa
Youssou Ndour's 'Bal des Grands' concert in Bamako canceled due to curfew
via SeneNews4 min read
The highly anticipated 'Bal des Grands' event, featuring mbalax king Youssou Ndour, was canceled in Bamako on Saturday, April 25, 2026. The concert was interrupted and subsequently called off following a curfew imposed in the Malian capital starting at 9 PM. Guests were already seated and opening acts were present when the decision was announced. Event promoter Abou Guitteye took to the stage to announce the cancellation and postponement, citing the country's security crisis, including jihadist attacks in several cities. He expressed his disappointment, noting months of preparation, but emphasized that the safety of attendees was the priority. Youssou Ndour, who was expected to perform around midnight, did not appear at the venue.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
Senegal has fallen one spot to 15th in the latest FIFA world rankings, updated on Thursday, June 11, 2026. This comes after their two preparatory matches for the 2026 World Cup, played between late May and early June, where they suffered a loss to the United States and a draw against Saudi Arabia. On the African continent, Senegal remains behind Morocco, which climbed one position to 7th globally after defeating Madagascar 4-0 and drawing 1-1 with Norway.
Must ReadFive days before their opening match against Senegal in the 2026 World Cup, the French national team held their first training session on Thursday at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Arriving the day before in the United States, Didier Deschamps' players encountered demanding climatic conditions, with temperatures around 31°C. The 26 players selected for the World Cup participated in this initial session, which was open to the media for the first fifteen minutes. Senegal, who will face France next Tuesday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, observed an opponent already confronting a major challenge of this North American World Cup: managing the heat. Goalkeeper Brice Samba praised the quality of the facilities provided to the French team, describing them as "vast, large, beautiful facilities. We are really very comfortable." Defender Maxence Lacroix echoed this satisfaction, stating that the team has now fully entered the competition. Aware of the weather conditions awaiting them during the tournament, the French have begun adapting their preparation. Maxence Lacroix revealed that several meetings were held to anticipate the effects of the heat, while Brice Samba emphasized the importance of hydration. The French goalkeeper stated, "We must hydrate well. It's not the first time we'll play in the heat. We will adapt like all teams." Days before their match against Pape Thiaw's Lions, the French team appears focused on physical preparation and acclimatization, sending
FIFA President Gianni Infantino's remuneration has been disclosed in the organization's 2025 annual report, amidst the start of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. As a non-profit association, FIFA annually publishes the earnings of its key leaders for transparency. According to the latest financial report, Infantino received a fixed gross salary of 2.6 million Swiss francs in 2025, supplemented by a variable remuneration of 2.2 million Swiss francs. This brings his total annual income from his position to 4.8 million Swiss francs, equivalent to approximately 5.1 million euros at current exchange rates. This disclosure comes as FIFA faces criticism regarding the high cost of tickets for the 2026 World Cup, which many fans and observers deem excessive. The pricing for certain matches has fueled debate about the commercial strategy of the organization under Infantino's leadership. Since taking office in 2016, the Swiss executive has seen his remuneration increase, aligning with the growth in FIFA's generated revenues. Under his tenure, FIFA anticipates record revenues due to the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams and the development of new international competitions.