Kalidou Koulibaly addresses Senegal's 2026 World Cup elimination, apologizes to fans
via SeneNews6 min read
Kalidou Koulibaly, captain of the Lions of Teranga, has broken his silence eight days after Senegal's elimination from the 2026 World Cup in the round of 16 against Belgium 2-3 after extra time. In a message to Senegalese supporters, Koulibaly apologized for the team's performance and took responsibility for the collective disappointment. He acknowledged the pain of defeat and the high ambitions of the nation, stating that the team "did not live up to our ambitions." Koulibaly thanked fans for their unwavering support and admitted that the Lions were not effective enough to continue their journey, emphasizing that in high-level football, details matter, and they "can and must do better." He also addressed rumors and accusations against players, defending the integrity and unity of the team. Koulibaly denied influencing player selections or exclusions, affirming that the coach was solely responsible for sporting decisions. While taking responsibility as captain, he declined to comment on matters concerning the technical staff or the Senegalese Football Federation. Despite the disappointment, Koulibaly urged Senegalese people not to forget the generation's contributions to national football and promised that the Lions would work to regain public trust, concluding with the message: "The Lion falls sometimes. But the Lion always gets back up."
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
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Kalidou Koulibaly, captain of the Lions of Teranga, has strongly refuted allegations that he influenced the coach's selection choices, specifically regarding Malang Sarr. Koulibaly emphasized that all sporting decisions are solely the responsibility of the coach. Following Senegal's elimination from the 2026 World Cup, the defender addressed accusations that he had a hand in player selections or exclusions. In a message to the Senegalese public, he categorically denied any involvement, stating, "I have never chosen a single player for a selection. I have never prevented a single player from joining the Den, nor asked for anyone's exclusion." Koulibaly reiterated that the coach has always been the sole master of his sporting decisions, including call-ups, team compositions, and technical choices, and that these decisions have always been respected by the players.
Belgium's captain Youri Tielemans has been ruled out of the World Cup 2026 quarter-final match against Spain in Los Angeles. Tielemans, who was initially announced as a starter, will be replaced by Hans Vanaken in midfield. The FIFA match sheet listed Tielemans as "injured" just minutes before the noon local time 19:00 GMT kickoff. Meanwhile, Spain's Fabian Ruiz, a midfielder for Paris SG, will return to the starting lineup for the Roja.