On the eve of Senegal’s highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup Group I opener against France, the President of Senegal’s National Assembly, Ousmane Sonko, has delivered a confident prediction laced with geopolitical insight, framing the fixture as a symbolic victory for the African continent regardless of the final score.
In an exclusive interview granted jointly to France 24 and RFI and published on Monday, June 15, Sonko didn’t hide his allegiance. “I think Senegal will win, I hope so like all Senegalese do,” he declared, voicing his support for the Lions of Teranga as they prepare to face the 2018 world champions.
However, the political leader, known for his pan-Africanist stance, quickly transcended the simple sporting prediction, reminding listeners that it is “only a football match,” but one with significant symbolic weight.
Drawing attention to the multicultural composition of the French national team—which features a high number of players of African descent—Sonko argued that the match reflects a much deeper dynamic. “Whatever the result of the Senegal–France match, it will be Africa that beats Africa,” he stated, a remark that has since garnered significant attention both in Senegal and abroad.
For Sonko, this reality should serve as a wake-up call for the continent. “Just seeing the composition of the French national team brings us to understand where the need really lies,” he said, before calling on Africans to recognize their own value and potential. “We have natural resources, we have human resources with a booming demography and an essentially young population, and we have the geographical positioning,” Sonko added, urging a reassessment of the power dynamics between Africa and the West.
The President of the National Assembly believes the match will inevitably reignite debates on immigration and other issues that exist between Africa and the West in general. This political lens is one he fully embraces, staying true to his pan-Africanist line of thought, and it transforms the France-Senegal clash into something that far exceeds the framework of a simple football match.
Background: A Historic Rivalry
The encounter is loaded with history. Senegal famously stunned the football world in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup, beating the then-defending champions France 1-0 in Seoul thanks to a goal from the late Pape Bouba Diop. The upcoming match marks the two nations’ first meeting at a World Cup since that historic upset.
Sonko’s commentary also arrives as the man himself navigates a dramatic shift in his political career. Once the Prime Minister of Senegal, he was dismissed from that post on May 22, 2026. However, just days later, he was elected as the President of the National Assembly, capitalizing on the support of his PASTEF party, which holds the largest number of seats in the legislative body.
Match Information
The Group I fixture is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, June 16, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. While France enters the tournament as one of the heavy favorites, Senegal remains confident in its ability to create another upset. Senegal are currently ranked 16th in the world by FIFA, while the French side sits at 3rd.
Reporting from Dakar.
