Speaker of Senegal’s National Assembly, Ousmane Sonko, has described Senegal’s FIFA World Cup opener against France as more than just a football match, saying that whichever side wins, “Africa will have beaten Africa.”
Sonko made the remarks during an interview with RFI and France 24 in Dakar on Monday while assessing Senegal’s chances ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup clash.
He said Senegal would go into the game with confidence, expressing hope that his country would secure victory.
“I think Senegal will win. At least, that’s my hope, like every Senegalese person,” he said.
However, he noted that the encounter carries broader political and symbolic meaning given the number of players of African origin in the French squad.
“In any case, it’s only a football match. But if you want to look at the match politically, then whoever wins, Africa will have beaten Africa,” he added.
Sonko said the composition of France’s national team reflects Africa’s contribution to global football talent and should prompt deeper reflection on Africa–Europe relations.
He argued that Africa’s human and natural resources position the continent strongly in global affairs if properly harnessed.
“The message I always give to Africans is that if we understand our own value and embrace it — we have natural resources, we have human resources, we have a rapidly growing and overwhelmingly young population and we have a strategic position — then I believe the balance of needs is not where people often think it is,” he said.
Sonko also linked the discussion to wider issues such as migration and international relations, saying they should be approached from a more balanced perspective.
The interview also touched on Senegal’s domestic politics, economic challenges, regional security concerns, and West African integration.
Sonko, who was recently elected Speaker of the National Assembly, previously served as prime minister before his removal by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
