The Senegal clash against France has been described by Ousmane Sanko, Speaker of the Senegalese National Assembly as more than a football match, saying that whichever team wins, “Africa will have beaten Africa.”
Sonko made the remark during an interview with RFI and France 24 in Dakar on Monday, when he was assessing Senegal’s chances against France in the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening match.
Sonko commented on the number of African-born players in the French squad, saying, “I believe Senegal will win. At the very least, it is my hope, as is everyone else’s in Senegal.
“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.”
The speaker stated that the composition of the French national team symbolizes Africa’s contribution to global talent and should stimulate more study on African-European ties.
According to him, the French team’s composition emphasizes Africa’s people, potential, and geopolitical importance.
“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 went on to say that such realities should affect discussions on migration and other aspects of Africa-Western relations.
The former prime minister made the statements during an extensive interview in which he covered Senegal’s domestic politics, economic concerns, regional security issues, and the future of West African integration.
Sonko was elected speaker of Senegal’s National Assembly in May, just days after being ousted as prime minister by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
