🇸🇳SenegalWest Africa
Kalidou Koulibaly's performance under scrutiny after Senegal's World Cup struggles
via SeneNews3 min read
Senegal's 3-2 loss to Norway has intensified internal issues within the team, with captain Kalidou Koulibaly at the center of criticism. Following a 3-1 defeat to France, Koulibaly admitted he was not at 100% physically but chose to remain in the starting lineup. This decision is now heavily scrutinized, especially after his performance against Norway, where he was directly involved in both goals conceded. Once considered a formidable defender, Koulibaly appeared out of rhythm and hesitant, notably making an alignment error on the first goal and a direct mistake leading to Norway's second. The 35-year-old defender arrived at the tournament physically diminished after a three-month injury layoff with Al-Hilal, and his lack of match fitness has been evident. His struggles have reportedly affected the entire central defense, leading to a loss of collective balance for the Senegalese team. Senegalese media, including Le Soleil and Senenews, have been critical, highlighting "individual defensive errors" and suggesting the team is close to elimination. Social media reactions also show significant discontent, with criticism directed at Koulibaly and coach Pape Thiaw. With two losses in two matches, Senegal faces a difficult path to the knockout stages, needing a large-margin victory against Iraq and favorable circumstances to advance.
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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 Mané expressed his disappointment but acknowledged Norway's deserved victory. Mané 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.