Kalidou Koulibaly: "Now it's up to us to prove it in September"

At the final whistle of Senegal's latest friendly, Kalidou Koulibaly wore the look of a man who understands the true weight of a 3-1 victory over a powerhouse like England. Yet, his expression also revealed the awareness that the toughest challenges still lie ahead.

This Tuesday, June 10 in Nottingham, the Lions' captain didn't just praise his team's performance. Above all, he reminded everyone that this impressive 3-1 win is just a stepping stone:

We knew it would be a tough match against a strong England side that was unbeaten in their last three games. It's true, we needed to show real character after conceding that early goal. We proved that Senegal has plenty of mentality.

Shaken but not broken after Harry Kane’s early opener in the 7th minute, the Teranga Lions fought back with heart, intensity, and—most of all—talent. Ismaïla Sarr, Habib Diarra, and then Cheikh Sabaly all found the net. At the back, Koulibaly held the line with authority. And he was quick to highlight the collective intelligence and the technical staff's role:

The coach's plan was excellent. Over these ten days, we’ve shown that Senegal is a top team. We have to keep going like this.

But the Senegalese colossus hasn’t lost sight of what matters most. This friendly, historic as it may be, is above all a springboard for the future. And what lies ahead are the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. In September, Senegal will face Sudan and DR Congo in two crucial fixtures that will shape their road to the World Cup:

We have to keep preparing. For these matches, confidence is key. And I think we've built up a lot of it. We'll head into September hungry to win, eager to show that Senegal deserves its place at the World Cup.

Aliou Toundé |

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