Senegal’s defender Kalidou Koulibaly speaks to journalists following a training session in Doha. AFP
Doha: Reigning African champions Senegal are talented and are poised to show what they can do despite missing the injured Sadio Mane as they kick off their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, stressed Senegal and Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
The West Africans will open their World Cup Group A campaign against The Netherlands tomorrow at the Al Thumama Stadium. They will also face host nation Qatar on November 25 and then Ecuador four days later.
Senegal will hope to better their last World Cup appearance, where they got knocked out due to a FIFA Fair Play rule. Koulibaly said the team would keep playing their “aggressive” football style and keep believing.
“Yes, it is true that we’ll miss Mane at this World Cup. He’s an important player for us and a leader. It was a bit sad when we knew he couldn’t come to the World Cup, but we have to keep working and playing for him because he wanted so badly to come. So, I think the Senegal team will play for him, and we show everybody that they can trust us,” Koulibaly said.
Aliou Cisse’s side will now bank on Watford’s Ismaila Sarr, Keita Balde and others to carry the side’s offensive load. The team will also need Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy in goal, Koulibaly and Cheikhou Kouyate’s leadership in defence and the strong midfield presence of Idrissa Gueye and Nampalys Mendy in Mane’s absence.
Koulibaly said Mane gives the team soul, confidence and more positivity when they play and with his presence.
The 31-year-old disclosed he hopes Mane, who recently had surgery on his injured leg, will join the team in Qatar for support or speak to some of the players over the phone to inspire some of them.
The Teranga Lions are making their third appearance in the finals, and Koulibaly said they’ll take every game step by step.
“We will see and take it game after game. We know that Monday will be a tough game against a nice team. We will do everything to win this game. We have to play Qatar after this and then Ecuador. We will give everything to pass this group; it’s our first objective,” he added.
The France-born defender said The Netherlands are one of the best teams in the world with good players and are the team everybody expects to win. “We will show our talent and quality and show everybody we can play against them.”
On playing the World Cup in the middle of the European football season, the Chelsea defender also said every team would have to adapt to the change, but African teams are used to playing at this time due to the Cup of Nations.
“I know it will be tough for a lot of teams, but we want to play and win the games. I think all the African teams are used to it because we always leave our club in December to come in to play Africa Cup. For us, we have to concentrate on our games.”
