馃嚫馃嚦SenegalWest Africa
Senegal national team faces dilemma over Kalidou Koulibaly's fitness ahead of World Cup opener against France
via SeneNews3 min read
With Senegal's World Cup match against France approaching on June 16 in New York, the team's staff is debating whether to start Kalidou Koulibaly despite his lack of recent play. Koulibaly, a central defender and team leader for over a decade, sustained a thigh muscle injury in April, keeping him off the field for nearly two months. He returned for eight minutes in a friendly against Saudi Arabia on June 9, showing no physical issues but a clear lack of rhythm. Coach Pape Thiaw must decide between Koulibaly's experience and leadership against France's strong offense, or the risk of playing an unready player against fast attackers like Kylian Mbapp茅 and Ousmane Demb茅l茅. Former international Ibrahima Sonko stated that without a 100% fit Koulibaly, Senegal loses a leader and defensive anchor, emphasizing the concern over his competitive rhythm after two months out. Seydina Issa Aidara, assistant coach for Senegal's U17 team, advises caution, suggesting that the few minutes played against Saudi Arabia are insufficient to assess Koulibaly's readiness. He believes younger players who have performed well should be trusted, allowing Koulibaly to regain rhythm gradually during the tournament, as the first match against a formidable opponent requires players to be at 100% physical capacity. The coach's decision will significantly impact Senegal's World Cup start, balancing Koulibaly's experience against the risk of a premature return to the defensive line.
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 defeat against France has ignited heated discussions, particularly following Kalidou Koulibaly's statements regarding his and his teammates' physical condition. These remarks have intensified criticism from supporters concerning the technical staff's decisions and the participation of players who were not at full fitness. Koulibaly's comments, made in the mixed zone, expressed frustration and revealed that some players, including himself, Idy, and Pape Gueye, were not at 100% physically. He stated, "We worked very, very hard, even with players who were not 100% physically, like me, Idy, and Pape Gueye. This bodes well for the future. We must continue to work." These statements quickly led to a wave of reactions on X formerly Twitter, with many supporters criticizing the decision to play certain key players despite their physical limitations.
The Senegalese government has completed the payment of salaries for contract teachers across the country. This decision, confirmed by the Ministry of National Education, is seen as a crucial step for social peace and the continuity of the academic calendar, especially with the CFEE 2026 approaching. The payment fulfills a political commitment by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, aiming to stabilize society and secure the school year. The Ministry of National Education stated that this measure is intended to foster a calm environment in schools, ensuring the smooth conduct of evaluations nationwide. This addresses a long-standing demand from education stakeholders, often raised before national examinations. The Ministry highlighted that this achievement resulted from coordination among various public administration bodies, including the Ministry of Finance, regional governors, Academic Inspectorates IA, Education and Training Inspectorates IEF, and teacher unions. These entities were acknowledged for their role in resolving the situation, which was deemed vital for the continuity of public education services.
Abdoul Aziz Diop, former special advisor to President Macky Sall, has been summoned by the Dakar prosecutor's office regarding controversial statements he made about Pastef leader Ousmane Sonko and his supporters. The Special Cybersecurity Division has been instructed to question Diop about remarks he made during a media broadcast. This development follows a public outcry over Diop's comments, which were described as particularly harsh towards Sonko, who is currently the President of the National Assembly, and Pastef activists and sympathizers. Investigators from the Special Cybersecurity Division have been mandated to gather explanations from the former presidential advisor.