A mid-match tactical intervention by United States men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino has drawn attention to how teams may adapt to new cooling-break regulations ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, highlighting a growing debate over the impact of the rule on the sport.

The moment occurred during the United States’ 3-2 victory over Senegal in a World Cup warm-up match in Charlotte, North Carolina. Midway through the first half, television cameras captured Pochettino crouched near the bench while examining video footage on a laptop held by an assistant.

Several players gathered around the screen as the coach delivered instructions.The scene quickly attracted attention online, with images of players clustered around the laptop becoming widely shared on social media.

While some observers treated the incident as a novelty, the session reflected a deliberate coaching strategy employed by Pochettino to provide immediate visual feedback during matches.According to the Argentine coach, the video review focused on specific sequences in which he believed the United States could improve its performance.

Speaking after the match, Pochettino said visual demonstrations can help players better understand tactical adjustments.”The players need to feel, but they also need to see,” Pochettino said. “I think it’s very helpful for the player to see actions. When they see the image, I think it’s really important.

“Pochettino said he has used similar methods for years, tracing the practice back to his managerial tenure at Spanish club Espanyol, where he began coaching in 2009. He described the approach as an effective tool for communicating tactical information during games.

The episode also highlighted the evolving role of cooling breaks in international football. During the 2026 World Cup, matches will include mandatory stoppages midway through each half.

FIFA has introduced the measure to ensure consistency across tournament fixtures, particularly given expectations that some matches will be played in high-temperature conditions where hydration breaks would otherwise be required for player safety.

The policy has generated discussion among coaches, players and commentators regarding its effect on the traditionally uninterrupted nature of football. Cooling breaks have already been implemented during several preparatory matches involving World Cup participants, including United States fixtures in March and the Senegal friendly in Charlotte.

The stoppage in Charlotte took place despite moderate weather conditions, with temperatures remaining in the mid-70s Fahrenheit throughout the match. Similar breaks were also used during indoor matches played earlier in the year at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Although the image of players gathered around a laptop created comparisons with timeouts commonly seen in sports such as basketball, identical scenes are unlikely during the World Cup itself.

Tournament regulations do not permit players to leave the field during cooling breaks. However, teams continue to seek clarification regarding what forms of communication and instruction will be allowed during those intervals.

The introduction of mandatory stoppages has prompted broader questions about whether football is moving toward a more structured format that creates additional opportunities for coaching intervention. Critics argue that the breaks alter the rhythm of the game and provide tactical advantages that did not previously exist.

Some observers have also suggested that additional stoppages create opportunities for broadcasters to insert advertising inventory into periods that would traditionally feature continuous gameplay. Such concerns have become part of a wider debate about commercial pressures and the evolution of sports broadcasting.

Coaches, meanwhile, have largely focused on the competitive implications. Earlier this year, Portugal manager Roberto Martinez described the cooling break as a tactical opportunity capable of influencing the direction of a match.Players have also acknowledged the practical benefits of the stoppages. United States defender Mark McKenzie said the break against Senegal allowed the team to address tactical issues while protecting a narrow lead.

McKenzie said the pause enabled players and coaches to make adjustments related to pressing systems, defensive transitions and overall organization. He described the opportunity as beneficial because it allowed the group to reset collectively and improve areas identified during the match.Despite using the stoppage to communicate tactical instructions, Pochettino expressed reservations about the broader concept of mandatory breaks in football.

The coach said he supports hydration pauses when weather conditions create legitimate health concerns but questioned their necessity in more moderate environments.According to Pochettino, player welfare should remain the primary consideration. However, he argued that professional footballers are capable of competing through a standard 45-minute half without interruption under normal conditions.

The coach also voiced concerns that the accumulation of rule changes could gradually alter the character of the sport. While acknowledging the practical realities of modern football administration, he suggested that some adjustments are reshaping aspects of the game that have historically distinguished football from other sports.

As teams continue preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the cooling-break policy is expected to remain a topic of discussion. The scene in Charlotte demonstrated how coaches may use the additional stoppages as strategic tools, even as debates continue over whether such interventions enhance player welfare, improve competition or fundamentally change the nature of football.

The government of Senegal has made measurable progress in strengthening its primary education workforce, but disparities in the distribution of teachers across regions and schools continue to affect equity and learning outcomes, according to a recent study published by UNICEF’s Office of Research – Innocenti.

The report, part of the “Teachers for All” research initiative released in March 2026, highlights that Senegal maintains a relatively strong national supply of trained teachers in elementary education compared with regional peers in sub-Saharan Africa.

The country’s national pupil–teacher ratio stands at approximately 35:1, exceeding international benchmarks and regional averages, reflecting sustained investment in teacher training and recruitment.

Despite this progress, the study identifies structural challenges in how teachers are allocated within the education system. While overall supply levels are considered adequate at the national scale, imbalances persist at subnational levels, with some schools and regions experiencing shortages while others maintain comparatively higher staffing levels.

A central component of Senegal’s allocation strategy is the use of a digital platform known as MIRADOR, designed to support transparent and data-driven decision-making in teacher deployment and mobility. The platform has been cited in the report as an emerging model within the region, enabling authorities to track teacher placements and manage transfers more systematically.

According to the study, the introduction of MIRADOR reflects a broader effort by policymakers to modernize administrative processes and reduce inefficiencies in workforce management. By integrating administrative data, the system aims to align teacher distribution more closely with student needs and demographic patterns.

However, the report notes that digital tools alone have not fully resolved underlying disparities. Variations in teacher availability remain evident across regions, schools, and even within classrooms, suggesting that allocation challenges are influenced by factors beyond administrative systems.The analysis is based on two complementary research components.

The first draws on administrative data to map teacher distribution patterns nationwide, assessing how these patterns correlate with equity considerations and student outcomes. The second component uses qualitative data to examine the drivers behind these patterns, including teacher preferences, working conditions, and policy implementation gaps.

One of the key findings relates to the difficulty of attracting and retaining teachers in so-called “departure zones,” typically rural or less-developed areas where living and working conditions may be less favorable. These areas tend to experience higher turnover rates and persistent staffing shortages, despite national-level adequacy in teacher supply.

The study indicates that while allocation policies are designed to address such imbalances, their effectiveness is shaped by broader socioeconomic factors. Teachers may seek transfers to urban or better-resourced locations, creating a cycle in which disadvantaged areas remain underserved.

This dynamic poses challenges for achieving equitable access to quality education across the country.The report also highlights the role of policy design and implementation in shaping outcomes. While Senegal has introduced increasingly transparent procedures for teacher deployment, gaps remain in ensuring that these policies are consistently applied and aligned with local needs.

The interaction between formal allocation mechanisms and informal practices is identified as an area requiring further attention.Education experts involved in the study emphasize that equitable teacher distribution is a critical determinant of learning outcomes.

Disparities in staffing can lead to overcrowded classrooms in some areas and underutilization of resources in others, affecting both teaching quality and student performance.The findings are presented in a two-part report series accompanied by a joint executive summary, which synthesizes insights from both quantitative and qualitative analyses.

The combined approach is intended to provide a comprehensive understanding of teacher allocation dynamics and inform evidence-based policy decisions.According to the report, Senegal’s experience offers broader lessons for education systems in similar contexts. The integration of digital tools such as MIRADOR demonstrates the potential for data-driven approaches to improve governance and transparency.

At the same time, the persistence of inequities underscores the importance of addressing structural and contextual factors alongside technological solutions.The study situates teacher allocation within the wider objective of achieving equitable access to education, a priority reflected in national policy frameworks and international development goals.

Ensuring that all students have access to qualified teachers remains a central challenge, particularly in regions with limited infrastructure and resources.UNICEF’s research emphasizes the need for continued investment in both systems and incentives to support balanced teacher distribution. This includes not only refining allocation mechanisms but also improving conditions in underserved areas to make them more attractive to educators.

While Senegal’s overall progress in expanding its teacher workforce is acknowledged, the report concludes that achieving equity will require sustained and coordinated efforts across multiple dimensions of the education system.

The findings are expected to inform ongoing policy discussions and contribute to broader regional debates on education reform and resource allocation.

Fisherman Ibrahima Mar, 55, said dwindling catches have upended a way of life sustained for generations in Rufisque, near Dakar. He described a steady depletion of fish stocks that has left traditional fishers struggling to survive. “The fish have been taken from our path,” he said, pointing to worsening conditions in recent years.

Analysts attribute the decline to a combination of illegal practices and large-scale industrial operations. Bassirou Diarra, Senegal country manager for the Environmental Justice Foundation, said vessels engaged in bottom trawling and other activities often operate under Senegalese flags but are linked to foreign ownership, including European and Asian interests.

“These practices not only reduce fish availability for local consumption but also limit economic returns to the country,” Diarra said, citing issues such as unauthorized fishing in protected areas, non-compliant equipment and lax licensing.

A 2025 report by the Environmental Justice Foundation estimated that 57% of exploited fish populations in Senegal are in a state of collapse, underscoring the scale of the crisis.

The decline has had ripple effects across coastal economies. According to census data, more than 82,000 people in Senegal depend on fishing, accounting for about 2% of the workforce. Ancillary sectors such as fish processing, transport and retail have also been affected.

Local fishing leaders say productivity has sharply declined. Mamadou Diouf Sene, head of the Rufisque Fishing Wharf Revenue Commission, said it now takes up to seven months to catch what previously required two months, reflecting the strain on marine resources.

The economic pressure has contributed to increased migration attempts, with some fishermen undertaking dangerous journeys to Europe in traditional wooden boats known as pirogues. Community members say these journeys often end in tragedy.

Environmental factors have compounded the problem. Researchers note that climate change is shifting small pelagic species, such as sardinella and horse mackerel, northward, further reducing local availability.

Authorities acknowledge enforcement challenges. Cheikh Salla Ndiaye of Senegal’s Directorate of Fisheries Protection and Surveillance said monitoring vast maritime areas remains difficult despite support from security forces.

Efforts to improve oversight are underway, with environmental groups such as Greenpeace introducing technologies including satellite tracking and mobile reporting tools to help identify illegal activity at sea.

The crisis has raised concerns about long-term food security and economic stability in Senegal, where fish remains a central component of both diet and cultural identity.

Iraq first submitted its request to join the bank in 2018, and its shareholder status enables it to apply to become a recipient economy, which would unlock EBRD finance and policy support.

“When the time comes, we are looking forward to starting work in Iraq, applying our expertise to developing its economy,” EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso said in a statement.

Renaud-Basso told Reuters that Senegal and Ghana had submitted applications to join the bank in the latest sign of its push into sub-Saharan Africa.

She said those applications would be sent to the EBRD board of governors for approval. The lender said last month that it had approved applications from Benin and Ivory Coast.

The EBRD was set up 32 years ago to invest in the ex-communist economies of eastern Europe, and currently operates in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and central Asia.

On Wednesday, the bank took the first steps to enable a 4-billion-euro increase to its current share capital of 30 billion euros, aimed mainly at enabling further support for Ukraine. If approved by the bank’s governors, it would mark the third share capital increase in its history.

The EFF/ECF program will help address macroeconomic imbalances while the RSF arrangement will help with longer-term challenges related to climate change, the fund said.

The board’s decision allows for an immediate disbursement of about $216 million under the EFF/ECF, the IMF said.

Dakar (Reuters) – New clashes broke out on Saturday between Senegalese opposition supporters and police in parts of the capital Dakar, the third day of protests in the West African nation sparked by the prosecution of an opposition leader.

Police said the death toll since Thursday had risen to 15, making the protests among the deadliest in recent decades. Two members of the security forces were among those killed, according to the presidency.

After a daytime lull, protesters took to the streets again on Saturday evening, setting up barricades and burning rubbish in Dakar’s HLM district. Police there and in the Ngor residential neighbourhood fired tear gas in an effort to disperse angry crowds.

Gas stations and a supermarket were looted overnight on Friday and several districts were strewn with rubble and burned tyres. A water plant has also been targeted, said Interior Minister Felix Abdoulaye Diome.

“There has been a clear intention to disrupt the normal working of our economic activity. The choice of targets is not accidental,” Diome told journalists late on Saturday, describing the situation as under control.

He said over 500 people had been detained since the long-running protests first kicked off in 2021.

The catalyst for the latest unrest was the sentencing on Thursday of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko in the two-year-old rape case. His supporters say the prosecution was politically motivated and he denies any wrongdoing.

On Thursday, he was acquitted of rape but found guilty in absentia of corrupting a minor and sentenced to two years in prison. That sentence could prevent him from running in the February presidential election, and protesters have heeded his call to challenge authorities.

Minister Diome declined to comment on whether the police planned to detain Sonko imminently to start his prison sentence – a move that would likely further enflame tensions.

The government has enlisted the army to back up riot police stationed around the city. The Dakar district of Ouakam appeared calm on Saturday evening but more than a dozen soldiers guarded a ravaged gas station there.

Abdou Ndiaye, the owner of a nearby corner shop, said he had closed early the two previous days and opened late on Saturday, fearful of the unrest.

“We are so scared because you don’t know when the crowds will come, and when they come they take … your goods, they are thieves,” he said in a storeroom stacked with sacks of food and household items.

Senegal, long considered one of the region’s most stable democracies, has seen sometimes violent opposition demonstrations sparked by Sonko’s court case as well as concerns that President Macky Sall will try to bypass a two-term limit and run again in February.

Sall has neither confirmed nor denied this.

The scheme to distribute dates and Iftar was launched by the Saudi Embassy in Kenya’s religious attache, and Nasser bin Mohammed Al-Faridi, the Saudi Deputy Ambassador to the nation, was there.

Al-Faridi thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their support of the ministry’s work on behalf of Muslims around the world, particularly during the fast-month of Ramadan.

A total of 10 tonnes of dates will be distributed, and more than 15,000 Muslims will participate in the Iftar event.

The Iftar project was also started by the Islamic Higher Institute in the Senegalese province of Louga.

Sheikh Wahid bin Mohammed Majribi, the religious attache at the Saudi Embassy in Senegal, applauded the Kingdom’s government for supporting Islam and Muslims and the ministry’s careful selection of programme participants.