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The outcome of the Senegal-Morocco final remains uncertain, pending a decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Yet one thing is clear: the situation could have been handled far more effectively to prevent such a drawn-out controversy—most notably the retroactive alteration of a result weeks after the final whistle. To prevent similar disputes, FIFA has taken decisive action. During a recent congress in Vancouver, the governing body issued updated directives aimed at referees worldwide. According to reports, referees are now instructed to immediately issue a red card to any player who leaves the field in protest against an official’s decision. The same penalty applies to coaching staff members who encourage such behavior. Moreover, if an entire team were to walk off the pitch in p...

The Niger region of Maradi is witnessing a transformative leap in healthcare accessibility, thanks to the PIDUREM initiative. Three newly inaugurated integrated health centers (CSIs) of type II in Maradi and Tessaoua are set to revolutionize medical services for urban and peri-urban populations. This milestone project, aligned with the PIDUREM (Integrated Urban Development and Multisectoral Resilience Project), aims to reduce pressure on regional hospitals while bringing advanced healthcare closer to residents. The initiative reflects a strategic push to enhance proximity healthcare across Niger’s economic hub. institutional supervision ensures seamless rollout of new health facilities The first two centers, located in Maradi’s ADS neighborhood (3rd district) and Tessaoua’s Toudou are...

CAF U17 referee training stage: Senegal’s El Hadj Amadou Sy stands alone for Morocco 2025 The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the preliminary list of referees chosen for the upcoming U17 Africa Cup of Nations preparation stage. This crucial phase precedes the final selection of officials for the tournament, set to take place in Morocco from May 13 to June 2. After a rigorous evaluation process, Senegal will be represented by just one referee: El Hadj Amadou Sy. Once this preparatory stage concludes, the CAF will finalize the list of officials officiating at the U17 CAN in Morocco. Appointed a FIFA international referee in 2019, El Hadj Amadou Sy continues to solidify his reputation as one of Africa’s top referees. Born in Saint-Louis, he began his career in loca...

Football in Mali is entering a transformative phase. The country’s national team, the Aigles du Mali, has bid farewell to Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet, whose tenure began in August 2024. The announcement came swiftly after the team’s exit from the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), marking the end of an era under his leadership. Saintfiet guided the team to the quarter-finals of the tournament, showcasing a pragmatic and disciplined approach. The Aigles finished their group stage with three draws before securing a dramatic victory over Tunisia in the round of 16, only to fall short against Senegal in the next match, losing 0-1. Despite initial reports suggesting unresolved financial disputes between Saintfiet and the Malian Football Federation, both parties have since clarified that thei...

Tom Saintfiet is no longer the head coach of Mali's national football team. The Belgian tactician, who took charge in August 2024, announced his immediate departure in a social media post on April 27, 2026, amid escalating political and security turmoil in the country. Jihadist offensives and Tuareg rebel clashes have intensified instability across Mali. "Today marks the end of my mission as head coach of Mali's senior national team," Saintfiet wrote on Facebook. "I leave with pride and dedication, despite difficult conditions. It is time for me to take on a new challenge." performance highlights under saintfiet’s leadership In his 17 matches at the helm, Saintfiet guided Mali to a strong competitive record, suffering just two defeats. One of those losses came in the 2025 Africa Cup of ...

Ghana’s energy crisis and its ripple effect on Bénin Recent months have seen sporadic power outages across the Communauté Électrique du Bénin (CEB) due to declining water levels in regional dams. Compounding this natural challenge, a devastating fire on April 23 severely damaged a key component of Ghana’s Akosombo Dam infrastructure. The incident slashed over 1,000 MW from the regional grid—enough to plunge multiple countries into darkness. Faced with the immediate threat of destabilizing its own power network, Accra made the tough call to halt electricity exports to neighboring nations. The halt affected Burkina Faso, Togo, and Bénin, testing the resilience of Cotonou’s energy supply. The Maria-Gléta 2 power plant: Bénin’s strategic safeguard While some temporary disruptions were repo...

What next for Mali's military leaders after shock of rebel offensive?7 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleMakuochi Okafor,BBC AfricaandMohamed Ibrahim,BBC ArabicAFP via Getty ImagesIt is hard to overstate the sense of shock reverberating across West Africa after attackers, in co-ordinated assaults, managed to enter Mali's capital, Bamako, assassinate the defence minister and seize control of northern areas.Residents in different cities across the country woke to gunfire and explosions on Saturday - attacks which an alliance of two groups - the separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and the al-Qaeda-linked JNIM group - said they were behind.The scale of the offensive and the withdrawal of Malian and Russian forces from the northern city of Kidal, now under FLA control, have fue...

The African Cup of Nations (CAN) 2025 saga has taken another dramatic turn, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) setting a strict deadline for Morocco’s football governing body to submit its defense. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) now has until May 7, 2026 to file its case, intensifying the pressure on the organization and keeping the entire continent on tenterhooks. Morocco faces TAS deadline to defend its controversial CAN 2025 title The stormy final between Morocco and Senegal at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on January 18 ended in chaos. After a scoreless draw at full time, a disputed penalty awarded to Morocco triggered a 15-minute walkout by the Senegalese players. Though they returned and won in extra time via a goal by Pape Gueye, the CAF Appeals...

TAS sets deadline for Morocco’s defense in CAN 2025 final dispute The Tribunal Arbitral du Sport (TAS) has set a critical deadline for the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) to submit its defense in the controversial CAN 2025 final case. This development marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing dispute between Morocco and Senegal over the tournament’s disputed outcome. The legal battle stems from the Confederation of African Football (CAF)'s decision to award the title to Morocco on a forfeit basis after a dramatic final against Senegal. The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has since appealed to the TAS, challenging the legitimacy of the result. Key deadlines and procedural steps The TAS has imposed a strict timeline for the proceedings. The FRMF must submit its formal defense by May...

Court of Arbitration for Sport makes progress in Morocco-Senegal football case The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has taken a significant step in the ongoing dispute between Senegal and Morocco. Following the submission of Senegal's football federation appeal brief, the international sports tribunal has set a deadline for the Royal Moroccan Football Federation to file its defense. What’s happening in the Morocco-Senegal football dispute? The legal battle between the two nations intensified when Senegal lodged an appeal with the CAS regarding a previous decision. The Senegalese Football Federation submitted its formal appeal documentation, prompting the tribunal to issue a timeline for Morocco's response. This development marks a crucial phase in the proceedings, as both federat...

A significant thigh injury has sidelined Senegal's influential defender and captain, Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal), for several weeks, raising considerable apprehension just shy of two months before the highly anticipated World Cup.In Senegal, this prolonged absence is sparking growing concern. The central defender and skipper of the national team, Kalidou Koulibaly, aged 34 with 102 caps and 2 goals, has not featured for his Saudi Pro League club, Al-Hilal, since April 8th.Suffering from a thigh injury sustained during a training session, the former Napoli star's return date to the pitch remains uncertain. With the World Cup merely six weeks away, the Lions of Teranga are scheduled to compete against France, Norway, and Iraq in Group I, making his fitness a critical factor.al-hilal remains...