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The 42
6 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Senegal a novel but tough test for Ireland as long road to World Cup qualifiers finally comes to end
THE FAI'S SOCIAL channels reheated a favoured dish yesterday, posting the clip of Robbie Keane's 'bail that out u fuckers' equaliser against Germany at the 2002 World Cup, on what was its 23rd (!) anniversary. For those of us too young to remember The Charlton Years, this remains our Peak Irish sporting moment, at a time the generation older than us reckoned we had finally cracked the whole qualifying lark. Alas, Ireland at the Fifa World Cup became another empty Celtic Tiger promise. Almost a quarter-century on, we remain languishing on football's ghost estates, as most of the rest of their world got to live the high life. Heimir Hallgrimsson has been brought in to give us some upward mobility, and these next few days mark the end of his speculating. It's almost time to discover his yield. After tonight's clash with Senegal and Tuesday's friendly against our Old Pals Luxembourg, Ireland will finally begin World Cup qualifying, and the defining three months of Hallgrimsson's tenure. Hallgrimsson's focus remains utterly on the prize. 'I wouldn't mind losing both these games if we won both games in September if you are thinking about it that way', he said at his pre-match press conference. Tonight's opponents made their name at that same World Cup in 2002, beating holders France on the opening day and going all the way to the quarter-finals. Unlike Ireland, though, Senegal have actually gone on to do something since. Then-captain, Aliou Cissé, took over as manager in 2015 and gloriously led them to their first Afcon title along with the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which were ruined by bad luck. First they became the first side ever eliminated from the groups on the last-resort, fair play tiebreaker, and four years later they got through the group only to run into England while depleted of Sadio Mane and Idrissa Gueye. But they have also had a penchant for off-field turbulence. Despite the fact the Senegal federation offered Cissé a new contract to take him through to the 2026 World Cup, the government – who actually pay Cissé's wages – decided he was no longer up to scratch, and told him they wouldn't be paying for that salary extension, given he had failed to make the World Cup quarter-finals nor win a second-straight Afcon title. And so against the wishes of both Cissé and the federation, he stepped aside and has been replaced by a former assistant and another alumnus of the '02 World Cup, Pape Thiaw. Senegal are in Dublin tonight partly because they were due to be close by, as they play England in a friendly in Nottingham next Tuesday. They are here without Sadio Mane, who has asked to be excused, but are otherwise at full strength. Advertisement Their squad is a blend of recognisable veterans – Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Idrissa Gueye – along with more youthful talent, including Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, Tottenham's Pape Sarr, and Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara. Crystal Palace winger Ismalia Sarr is among too few talents at their peak and bridging both generations. If you exclude a penalty shootout loss to Ivory Coast at the most recent Afcon, Senegal are unbeaten in 20 games and have lost just once since that England defeat in Qatar. Ranked second in Africa and 19th in the world, they are a daunting opponent for Ireland. 'To go 20 games unbeaten is amazing', enthused Hallgrimsson at his pre-game media duties, explaining how direct Senegal are in seeking runners in behind and picking out third-man runs from deep, which offers a different test from the more patient heavyweights of European football. Thus if Senegal are not going to give Ireland a rehearsal for the Portugal and Hungary tests in terms of style, they will at least force Ireland to be attuned to those sides' tempo. 'Everything happens a little bit quicker, when we need to defend and that's a good step, if we are ready for that it's a good preparation for Hungary and Portugal', says Hallgrimsson. His message in training this week has been to preach the importance of remaining compact in the face of Senegal's threat. Compact neatly describes how Ireland played during the first half of their tie away to England last November – they got to the break at 0-0 before everything fell apart – though a reprise of playing Nathan Collins in midfield seems unlikely tonight, if only for the fact it's a home game against a standard of opponent against whom Ireland must score come the qualifiers. Hallgrimsson has left most of his Championship players on the beach for this window, though Bristol City duo Jason Knight and Max O'Leary have been included, along with Robbie Brady. That Brady is here emphasises how important he has become to Hallgrimsson, with depth at left-back at a minimum. The Irish manager is concerned about the lack of options in that position, as Callum O'Dowda is injury-prone and now a League One player, while he sees Ryan Manning as an attacking player. Hence why Hallgrimsson has spoken about the possibility of another return for James McClean to the fold, with McClean certainly open to another act with Ireland. McClean isn't here this week, however, and so this is a big opportunity for Josh Honohan to show his capabilities. Of the four new call-ups, Honohan has the least competition for a place in the team, though Hallgrimsson was coy on whether any of the quartet would be involved. 'The purpose of having a look at them is to see if they are ready to play. Whether it will be tomorrow or against Luxembourg or not at all, we will wait and see.' Hallgrimsson was cool on the prospect of midfielder John Patrick Finn making a senior debut this week, responding to a follow-up question by saying he 'has to grow a little bit more as a player to be starting for Ireland.' John Patrick Finn. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO Next Tuesday's game against Luxembourg is the likelier game for debuts and experimentation. Caoimhín Kelleher has established himself as Ireland's number one and regular football with his new club Brentford means he intends to hold onto that status. Matt Doherty is the only specialist right-back in the squad, but all of Jake O'Brien, Dara O'Shea, and Andrew Omobamidele have shown themselves comfortable at shuffling across to fill the role. Liam Scales will provide further competition for the right to play alongside Nathan Collins. Given Brady and Knight have been selected, meanwhile, they will surely start. Ahead of Finn and fellow freshman Killian Phillips in the midfield pecking order are Will Smallbone and Jack Taylor. Smallbone hasn't played for Ireland since last September owing to a rotten run with injury, while Taylor hasn't been afforded many opportunities to build off his impressive cameo away to Greece last October. Both could start if Hallgrimsson opts to play a single striker, with Taylor deep alongside Knight and Smallbone playing higher in a position similar to that in which Finn Azaz excelled in March. Festy Ebosele has returned from injury and can punch through any defence with his pace down the right flank, while Manning may play again off the left having put in his best performance for Ireland away to Bulgaria in March. Troy Parrott missed Wednesday's session through illness but trained yesterday, doing media consumers across the country a favour in not having to read too many Sick as a Parrott headlines today. He is definitely ahead of Adam Idah in the pecking order: the question is whether Hallgrimsson chooses to pick Evan Ferguson alongside Parrott, and at the expense of an attacking midfield player. In the home leg against Bulgaria in March, Parrott led the line with Ferguson tucked in behind. There are more than 36,000 tickets sold for tonight's game, an admirable number for a summer friendly against a side with whom we don't exactly have a keen rivalry. It's proof once again hat the country is desperate to be carried away by its football team. Tonight, finally, is the end of Hallgrimsson's long beginning. Success will be if the end does not rush up to meet us too quickly. Ireland (Possible XI): Kelleher; Doherty; Collins, O'Shea, Brady; Ebosele, Taylor, Knight, Manning; Smallbone, Parrott On TV: RTE Two; KO: 7.45pm
The 42
6 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Senegal: An elite, unbeaten opponent whose government nonetheless ousted their most successful coach
THE TEAM THAT created history at the 2002 World Cup will on Friday be without their most famous player as they face the team that created headlines at the 2002 World Cup for being without their most famous player. And this, dear reader, is about all Ireland and Senegal have had to link them in more than 60 years of international football. Tomorrow's friendly will be the first meeting of the sides. The fact that many European nations are busy with World Cup qualifiers and Nations League finals narrowed Ireland's potential friendly opponents for this window, and Senegal were close to town given they are playing England in a friendly in Nottingham next week. Senegal will be in Dublin without their most recognisable star, as former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane – now playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia – has asked to be excused from duty. Also missing is the captain of the 2002 side that went all the way to the quarter-finals in Japan and South Korea, Aliou Cissé. Cissé was first elevated to the manager's job on an interim basis in 2012, and then returned to the job full-time in 2015. From there he made all manner of history. First, in 2018, his Senegal side became the first team ever eliminated from the World Cup group phase on the fair play rule – accumulating the higher number of cards across their three games – and a year later led Senegal to their first Afcon final since he was captain in 2002, where they were beaten by Algeria. Sadio Mane celebrates with the Afcon trophy in 2021. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Two years later, however, they returned to the final once again, and won a penalty shootout against Egypt. It was their first ever continental triumph. England ended their interest in the last-16 phase of the 2022 World Cup, with a depleted Senegal side beaten 3-0. Cissé, though, retained the confidence of the Senegalese FA and he was supposed to see the team through to the 2026 World Cup. The government, however, disagreed. Though the notion seems anathema to the European mind, it is common across African football for the government to pay the salary of the national team coach. (The Irish taxpayer may have saved the FAI from insolvency five years ago, but we are not directly covering Heimir Hallgrimsson's salary.) This practice somehow avoids Fifa's demand that a national football association be free of direct political interference, and so it is the case in Senegal. The FA had agreed a two-year extension with Cissé last year, only for the government to refuse to pay it, saying Cissé had not achieved his objectives, namely qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Qatar World Cup and defending their AFCON title a year later. The sports ministry acted, they said, out of fear for 'the risk of disaffection between our national team and the Senegalese in general.' Advertisement The president of the Senegalese FA said he was 'very sad' to see Cissé leave, and spoke plainly of their opposition to the political decision. 'The agenda of the government is not the same as the agenda of football,' Augustin Senghor told BBC Sport Africa. 'They decided and, unfortunately, we could not oppose it.' Cissé has been replaced by a former assistant, Pape Thiaw, and it is his job to squeeze the last drops out of Senegal's medal-winning generation, including Mane, centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, and midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye. They are buttressed by a younger generation of talent, which includes Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, Tottenham's Pape Sarr, and Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara. Senegal are in a battle even to make the next World Cup, sitting second in their group, a point behind leaders DR Congo, though with a points total currently good enough to make the play-offs. They remain unbeaten, with three wins and three draws from six matches, and their primary problem has been goalscoring: they have eight goals thus far, though four of them came in a single game against South Sudan and they have dropped points in goalless draws against Togo and Sudan. They are, however, unbeaten in their last 22 matches, save a penalty shootout loss to Ivory Coast in the last-16 of the 2023 Afcon. In fact, a 1-0 loss to Algeria in a friendly in September 2023 is their only defeat since the World Cup exit to England, stretching across 26 games. Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson is anticipating the kind of stiff test to ready his side for the World Cup qualifier matches with Portugal later this year. 'If you look at their matches and how they play, massive physicality, I'd say not only speed but running power, they come at you again and again', says Hallgrimsson. 'They look for the space behind you. If you watch Afcon, against a team like Senegal, [opponents] always need to play in a low block, so they are specialists in finding pockets to play into a run into, a third man running in, so we will be tested defensively, massively, in this game if they play like they have done. 'It's amazing for a national team to play 22 games without losing. 'Individual qualities, similar to Portugal, all players can hurt you so one-v-ones will be massively important. Everything happens a little bit quicker, when we need to defend and that's a good step, if we are ready for that it's a good preparation for Hungary and Portugal. 'It's a different kind of opponent, they are looking for spaces behind us and it doesn't happen that often in Europe, normally there are a few passes before the teams play behind us but that's one of the things we need to look at and improve.' It's fair to say Hallgrimsson does not share the same disapproving opinion of the Senegalese sports ministry.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
🎥 Djibril Cissé hits the decks at his own testimonial
🎥 Djibril Cissé hits the decks at his own testimonial Footballers are well-known multitaskers and many try their hand at different skills after hanging up the boots. Some former players may be less forthcoming with their hobbies, others are willing to put themselves on show more often, as ex-Liverpool and Marseille forward Djibril Cissé proved at his own testimonial. Advertisement After the match between an All Stars XI and Auxerre Greatest XI concluded, the 43-year-old wasted no time in heading to the DJ booth to entertain the crowd with a quick mix of classic dance tunes. Will Cissé's new career take off? 📸 ARNAUD FINISTRE - AFP or licensors
Daily News Egypt
15-05-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt developing sustainable strategies for African investment, trade integration: GAFI Head
Egypt's government is currently developing sustainable strategies to facilitate investment flows and trade among African nations, aiming to create integrated partnerships with key players on the continent, including Morocco, to boost intra-African investment and trade, according to Hossam Heiba, CEO of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI). Heiba made these remarks during his participation in the 'Connecting Markets to Build the Future' conference, organised by Attijariwafa Bank to strategise on investment and trade integration among African countries. He outlined the Egyptian government's plan to continue improving the investment environment. Key to this is the anticipated launch of the first version of a unified electronic licensing platform within days. This platform will connect entities responsible for issuing necessary approvals for investor license applications, consolidating the point of contact for investors and simplifying licensing procedures. The conference was attended by Hala El-Said, Advisor to the President for Economic Development; Mouawia Essekelli, Managing Director of Attijariwafa Bank Egypt; Ismail Douiri, Co-CEO of Attijariwafa Bank Group; Hazem Enan, Vice Chairman of the Industrial Development Authority; Hani Berzi, Chairperson of Edita Food Industries; Moustapha Cissé, Deputy CEO of Senegal's Investment Promotion Agency (APIX-S.A.); and Amedeo Abunaw, Deputy General Manager of Cameroon's Investment Promotion Agency. Abunaw highlighted Cameroon's investment advantages, noting its membership in several economic blocs that facilitate trade and investment with neighbouring countries, such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He also pointed out Cameroon's role as a major trade hub in West Africa due to its shared borders with landlocked countries like Chad and the Central African Republic. Abunaw praised Attijariwafa Bank's initiative to establish the 'Africa Development Club' in Egypt, Cameroon, and other African nations, stating such initiatives provide a conducive environment for exchanging views, experiences, investment opportunities, and developments, thereby facilitating investment and trade flows across the continent. Cissé invited the Egyptian business community to explore investment opportunities in Senegal, particularly in food processing and preservation, natural gas production and distribution, digital transformation, tourism, and pharmaceuticals. He noted these sectors require significant investment in Senegal, and Egypt possesses considerable expertise in managing them. Mr Cissé affirmed Senegal's political leadership's desire to attract Egyptian investments and exports, acknowledging Egypt as the first country to recognise Senegal's independence. Consequently, APIX-S.A. plans to hold a Senegalese-Egyptian investment forum in Dakar as soon as possible, in coordination with GAFI, to agree on targeted sectors for investment partnerships. Berzi, Chairperson of Edita Food Industries, commended the role of export councils and foreign trade exhibitions affiliated with the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade in supporting Egyptian businesses looking to export to African countries. He stated that African countries currently account for 15% of Egyptian exports, a figure that can be increased through better studies of consumer preferences in each country, intensified presence of financial institutions guaranteeing exports and investments in Africa, improved infrastructure and logistics connecting the continent's nations, and forming bilateral and multilateral partnerships with local partners in targeted countries to overcome bureaucratic hurdles, government regulations, or challenges related to distribution network efficiency.
Euronews
09-05-2025
- Euronews
Suspect in murder of man killed in French mosque repatriated to France
The suspect in the case of a young man who was murdered inside a mosque in the south of France has been repatriated from Italy on Friday. The suspect — referred to by French media as Olivier A. — is a French national who was born in 2004. He was transferred from Florence to a courthouse in the southern French city of Nîmes, according to media reports. Upon his arrival, he is expected to go before the magistrate leading the investigation to present his version of events. He reportedly faces a possible indictment for "murder aggravated by premeditation and the circumstance of commission because of race or religion" and "evading search or arrest." Before handing himself in to Italian authorities — for the murder of a 22-year old Malian man named Aboubakar Cissé — the suspect spent three days on the run. Cissé was attacked and stabbed dozens of times while praying at a mosque in the former mining town of La Grand-Combe in the south of France. Olivier A. — who lived in the area and who is not reported to have a criminal record — filmed the murder, which he then posted on Snapchat. Cissé's murder sparked a fiery debate in France in recent weeks, as government officials faced criticism for not initially treating the incident as a hate crime or showing the degree of concern they had in other fatal attacks.
