As the France-Senegal match approaches on June 16th—the opening game for Senegal in the 2026 World Cup qualifying—anticipation is building. Senegalese defender Moussa Niakhaté, born in France but now playing internationally for Senegal, is preparing to face his country of birth for the first time. Niakhaté acknowledges the emotional weight of the match, noting the number of bi-national players on both teams who share friendships. Despite these personal connections, he emphasizes the importance of the sporting challenge and views the game as an ideal start to the tournament. The team is motivated by the historic 2002 World Cup victory over France, a match remembered for Papa Bouba Diop’s winning goal. Niakhaté and his teammates aim to replicate that success and make a strong statement in their first match of the competition.