Also known as: the Lions
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The Namibian
Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has signed a new law doubling to 10 years the maximum prison term for sexual acts by same-sex couples. …
Senegal president signs tough new anti-LGBT law doubling jail termsThe Namibian
… Iraq will now play in World Cup Group I against France, Senegal and Norway.
Despite war, Iraq euphoric after team qualifies for World CupThe Namibian
… Iraq, whose preparations for Tuesday’s playoff had been disrupted by the war in the Middle East, will play in World Cup Group I against France, Senegal and Norway. …
Iraq beat Bolivia 2-1 to claim final World Cup placeNew Era
A swelling online campaign is demanding that if Senegal is stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations title it won in January, then the team they beat, Morocco, should lose their 1976 crown. …
Senegal’s AFCON loss sparks 1976 Morocco mythsThe Namibian
… Fans from four nations taking part this summer — Ivory Coast, Haiti, Iran and Senegal — face US travel bans and LGBTQ+ fan groups from England and across Europe have said they will not attend matches in the US, citing risks to transgender supporters in particular. …
World Cup risks being ‘stage for repression': AmnestyThe Namibian
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe said on Sunday he will “respect” the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision on Senegal’s appeal against being stripped of its Africa Cup of Nations title. …
Motsepe to ‘respect' CAS decision on Afcon final rowThe Namibian
Senegal on Saturday paraded the Africa Cup of Nations trophy they have been ordered to return before beating Peru 2-0 in a friendly at the Stade de France in Paris. …
Senegal parade Afcon trophy at Stade de France, despite being stripped of titleThe Namibian
New African champions Morocco snatched a late 1-1 friendly draw with Ecuador on Friday in their first match since the controversial decision to strip Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations crown. …
Controversial African champions Morocco salvage Ecuador draw on Ouahbi debutThe Namibian
… At the World Cup, Norway face a stacked group that also contains France, winners eight years ago and runners-up in 2022, and recently-deposed African champions Senegal as well as either Bolivia or Iraq. …
Dutch end Norway's unbeaten run as Haaland restsThe Namibian
… Diakité later fled the country and in December 2016, he was arrested in Senegal, where he was living under an assumed identity. …
Army commander convicted of Guinea stadium massacre dies in prisonMartin Odegaard scored a second-half equaliser to earn Norway a 1-1 draw with Morocco in a World Cup warm-up match, with Brahim Diaz having given Morocco an early lead.
13 hours ago · The Namibian →
Martin Odegaard scored a second-half equaliser to earn Norway a 1-1 draw with Morocco in a World Cup warm-up match, with Brahim Diaz having given Morocco an early lead.
13 hours ago · The Namibian →
Kai Havertz and Leroy Sane scored as Germany defeated the United States 2-1 in Chicago on Saturday in both teams' final World Cup warm-up game before the tournament began. Despite the loss, the US mounted a promising performance with chances to equalize, including a notable strike by Antonee Robinson from outside the box.
7 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Amad Diallo scored a late winner as Ivory Coast stunned France 2-1 in a World Cup warm-up match in Nantes on Thursday. Kylian Mbappe had a fruitless evening and was replaced at half-time, remaining stuck on 56 goals for France.
5 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Africa will be represented by ten nations at the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, with nine countries securing direct qualification and one earning a place through intercontinental play-offs. The direct qualifiers include continental heavyweights Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and South Africa, alongside debutants Cape Verde and returning Congo DR.
2 June 2026 · Informanté →
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams competing in 104 matches across the United States, Mexico and Canada from 11 June to 19 July 2026. It marks the first World Cup hosted by three countries and the first with 48 teams, up from the previous 32-team format.
1 June 2026 · Informanté →
Mohamed Salah, 33, leads Egypt at what is likely his final World Cup, seeking a first tournament victory for the Pharaohs after three previous campaigns without a win. Salah recently ended his nine-year Liverpool career with 257 goals before joining Al-Ittihad.
28 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Brazil, hunting their first World Cup title in 24 years, face Morocco—semi-finalists in 2022—and Scotland in Group C, with new coach Carlo Ancelotti tasked with optimizing an unbalanced squad featuring strong defensive options but clear gaps at full-back, midfield, and centre-forward.
26 May 2026 · The Namibian →
A same-sex couple in Botswana has filed a court case seeking the right to marry after being told it was illegal when they attempted to register their intent at a local government office. Hearings are scheduled for 14 and 15 July; if successful, Botswana would become the second African country to legalise same-sex marriage after South Africa in 2006.
25 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Coach Pape Thiaw unveiled a 28-man Senegal squad for the 2026 World Cup, featuring established stars including Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Edouard Mendy alongside emerging talent. Senegal will begin their Group I campaign on June 16 against France in New Jersey, also facing Norway and Iraq.
21 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The article examines how international football differs from club football, citing the absence of a transfer market and the pragmatic constraints on national team coaches who must work with available players and fewer high-profile matches.
19 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Vice President Lucia Witbooi told an Africa Forward summit in Nairobi that African nations must stop exporting unprocessed marine resources and instead build complete value chains through processing and manufacturing to drive industrialisation and economic independence. She said Namibia is shifting from exporting raw fish to a model where marine products are fully processed domestically, with a target of 60% of Namibian marine products undergoing secondary processing by 2030.
15 May 2026 · New Era →
Coach Didier Deschamps announced France's squad for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with Kylian Mbappe set to spearhead the attack and likely captain the team despite a recent thigh injury. The squad includes attacking talent such as Ballon d'Or holder Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, and Michael Olise, alongside defensive players including William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano.
15 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian oil and gas investor Knowledge Katti has issued a statement supporting the Petroleum Amendment Bill and the proposed Upstream Petroleum Unit in the Office of the President, arguing the reforms are necessary to strengthen oversight, attract investment, and accelerate Namibia's transition to oil production.
12 May 2026 · Informanté →
Knowledge Katti has urged Parliament and national leaders to support the creation of the Upstream Petroleum Unit (UPU) and the Petroleum Amendment Bill, arguing these reforms are necessary to help Namibia transition from oil exploration to production and address long-standing governance challenges in the sector.
11 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
FIFA boosted total World Cup cash distributions to nearly $900 million (specifically $871 million) from an initial $727 million, citing concerns over rising costs for the 48 teams competing in Mexico, Canada and the United States. The increase includes raising preparation costs per team from $1.5 million to $2.5 million and qualifying payments from $9 million to $10 million per team.
29 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Eight Namibian wrestlers will compete at the African Continental Championships in Alexandria from 27 April to 4 May, fully funded and prepared by the Sports Commission. The delegation, led by national coach Luis Paz, includes 2023 African champion Calvin Dreyer and senior woman wrestler Ester Abraham, who is training in Ivory Coast under an Olympic Solidarity Scholarship.
24 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's emerging Orange Basin oil and gas discoveries require strong regulatory and policy frameworks before commercial development momentum becomes difficult to redirect. The country must develop technical regulatory strength, clarify its fiscal regime, and build credible local content systems before major projects are sanctioned, drawing lessons from Guyana, Trinidad, Mozambique and other petroleum states.
20 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Industrial and illegal fishing, along with climate change and overfishing by artisanal fleets, have caused a sharp decline in Senegal's fish stocks, displacing traditional fishers and spurring some to attempt dangerous migration to Europe. According to the Environmental Justice Foundation, 57% of fish populations exploited in Senegal are in a state of collapse, with fishing vessels often flagged to Senegal but ultimately owned by foreign operators from Spain, Italy, France, China, and Turkey.
7 April 2026 · New Era →
Senegal's prime minister has banned government ministers from non-essential foreign travel due to rising oil prices stemming from the Iran conflict, with the cost of a barrel approaching double the budgeted amount. The move reflects a broader continental response to oil price rises, with other African countries reducing fuel levies, rationing electricity, and implementing other cost-cutting measures.
5 April 2026 · The Namibian →
A member of the Kakurukouye Traditional Authority welcomes the potential benefits of the Cape Fria smart city development but raises concerns about the project's realism, the involvement of external actors, and the lack of visible alignment between government and traditional leadership. The author calls for greater transparency, community involvement, and government oversight to ensure the project genuinely serves local interests rather than repeating patterns of land loss through modern "psychological colonialism."
2 April 2026 · New Era →
Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has signed legislation doubling the maximum prison sentence to 10 years for sexual acts by same-sex couples and criminalising the "promotion" of homosexuality with sentences of three to seven years. The law was approved by parliament with an overwhelming majority and reflects a campaign promise, though it has drawn criticism from UN officials and international human rights groups.
2 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Iraq's national football team qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1986 after a 2-1 victory over Bolivia, sparking celebrations across Baghdad despite the country's involvement in the Middle East conflict that has killed over 100 people. The win was described by residents as a source of national unity during dire economic circumstances and ongoing violence.
2 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Iraq defeated Bolivia 2-1 in an intercontinental playoff in Mexico to secure the 48th and final World Cup berth, marking their first appearance at the finals since 1986. Despite disruptions from the regional conflict and a gruelling journey from Baghdad, Iraq will compete in Group I alongside France, Senegal, and Norway.
2 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Following Senegal's January 2025 AFCON title being stripped by CAF after players walked off the pitch, social media posts claim Morocco won their 1976 title the same way. An AFP investigation found no evidence that Moroccan players left the pitch in 1976, with eyewitnesses and archival research confirming Morocco won that tournament "fairly, by the book."
31 March 2026 · New Era →
Amnesty International released a report calling on FIFA and the US, Canada and Mexico to protect fans and communities during the 2026 World Cup, warning that conditions in the host nations—particularly the US under the Trump administration—contrast sharply with FIFA's promise of safety and freedom, with concerns about ICE operations, travel bans for fans from certain nations, and risks to LGBTQ+ supporters.
30 March 2026 · The Namibian →
CAF president Patrice Motsepe said he will "respect and implement" the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision on Senegal's appeal against Morocco's overturned 3-0 victory in the disputed January Cup of Nations final. Motsepe stressed the appeal board comprises independent judges and lawyers, and announced CAF is implementing changes to strengthen confidence in referees, VAR operators and judicial bodies.
30 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Despite being ordered to return the Africa Cup of Nations trophy after CAF reversed Senegal's disputed January final victory over Morocco and awarded it to the hosts, Senegal paraded the trophy at the Stade de France and beat Peru 2-0 in a friendly. The Senegalese Football Federation has appealed the CAF decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
29 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Morocco's new coach Mohamed Ouahbi began his tenure with a 1-1 friendly draw against Ecuador in Madrid on Friday. The result came as Morocco continues preparation for the 2026 World Cup following the controversial Confederation of African Football decision last week that awarded them the Africa Cup of Nations title over Senegal.
28 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Netherlands beat Norway 2-1 in a friendly in Amsterdam on Friday, halting Norway's 13-match unbeaten run. Norway, who topped their World Cup qualifying group with 37 goals, rested key players including Erling Haaland for the match.
28 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Aboubacar Sidiki Diakité, convicted of crimes against humanity for his role in Guinea's 2009 stadium massacre that killed more than 150 people and resulted in at least 109 rapes, has died in custody while serving a 10-year sentence. His death has prompted concerns in Guinea about unresolved justice and accountability for past abuses.
27 March 2026 · The Namibian →