馃嚫馃嚦SenegalWest Africa
Kalidou Koulibaly reflects on Senegal's World Cup defeat to Norway
via SeneNews5 min read
Following Senegal's 3-2 loss to Norway in the 2026 World Cup Group I, captain Kalidou Koulibaly offered a candid self-assessment, acknowledging his errors contributed to the team's defeat. He emphasized that high-level football is decided by details and that his individual mistakes were costly. Koulibaly stated that the team "burned some jokers" after two consecutive losses, including an earlier 3-1 defeat to France. Despite the unfavorable outcome, he praised the team's mental resilience and second-half reaction, noting their effort to recover. Koulibaly also addressed his substitution, stating that if the coach removed him, it was because he was not helping the team. He called for continued solidarity, acknowledging both good and bad aspects of their performance. The captain also mentioned the impact of 脡douard Mendy's injury, describing it as a "small pinch in the internal ligament," with further medical examinations pending. Despite the setbacks, Koulibaly remains optimistic about qualification, asserting that the team must win their final match against Iraq and believe until the end. He expects the team to play with determination in the decisive match.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
Senegal's coach, Pape Thiaw, has justified his decision to field the same starting eleven against Norway that lost to France, a choice that has drawn criticism from many Senegalese supporters. Speaking at a post-match press conference, Thiaw explained that he maintained confidence in the team that played against France, believing that the errors from the first match had been sufficiently addressed before the second game. He stated, "We worked a lot on the mistakes made against France. I have confidence in my players and I know what they are capable of. In a team, the collective comes first." Thiaw acknowledged that he anticipated questions regarding his decisions, adding, "I knew these kinds of questions would come up. Fortunately, we are not dead yet. We still have one match left." Despite the recent poor performance, the Lions still have a chance to qualify and must perform well in their final group match.
Senegal's national football team, the Lions of Teranga, still harbors hopes of qualifying for the World Cup 2026 round of 16 despite having zero points after two matches. A crucial final match against Iraq is imperative for their qualification chances. An analysis of various groups reveals favorable scenarios that could aid Senegal's progression as one of the eight best third-placed teams. In Group A, the match between South Africa and Czechia could result in one team finishing with a low point total, keeping several nations in contention. Group B presents an even more favorable situation, with the Bosnia and Herzegovina versus Qatar match potentially leading to a very low point tally for one of the competitors, thus maintaining an opening in the third-place rankings. Group E also offers a promising outlook, as Germany is heavily favored against Ecuador, which could leave the South American team with limited points. In Group G, an unlikely defeat for Belgium could impact the overall balance of the third-place standings. Finally, a draw between Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia in Group H would be particularly beneficial for Senegal. While the outcomes of Groups J, K, and L are still being analyzed, a victory against Iraq is essential and could be sufficient for Senegal to advance.
Following Senegal's 3-2 loss to Norway in the 2026 World Cup, Al-Nassr forward Sadio Man茅 expressed his disappointment but acknowledged Norway's deserved victory. Man茅 stated that the team was not at its best level, leading to their second defeat in the tournament. Despite the setback, he remains optimistic about Senegal's chances of qualifying for the round of sixteen, emphasizing the need for the team to regroup quickly and prepare for the next match.