FIFA WC 2026: Players in the fog six weeks before kick-off
With less than two months to go before the 2026 World Cup kicks off, the carnage of injuries affecting several internationals is worrying both players and staff. African football is not spared by glitches, but also by the lack of playing time. An overview of the most worrying cases.
Philemon MBALE · Author profile ·
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Six weeks before the start of the North American tournament (USA - Mexico - Canada), African football is experiencing a tense end of season. The carnage of injuries that affects several internationals worries both players and clubs, and coaches on the continent scrutinize the states of form with increasing anxiety. Between the injured during recovery and the ghost players in their clubs, the picture is bleak.
Injuries at the worst moment
Kalidou Koulibaly is one of those who keep us waiting. A pillar of the Senegalese defense for nearly a decade, the Lions captain sees his World Cup played in the coming weeks. He is injured and his condition is very worrying since even his coach at Al Hilal, Simone Inzaghi, ignores the nature of his injury.
Same uncertainty for Nayef Aguerd. The defender of Olympique de Marseille remains an interrogation, after an operation followed by a bone inflammation that forced him to clench his teeth for a good part of the season. Mohamed Salah, on the other hand, raised the concern of an entire people. The Egyptian icon was hit by a muscle injury late in the season, creating uncertainty about his preparation, despite hopes that he could be recovered on time. Mohammed Kudus (Ghana) and Luca Zidane (Algeria) complete this list of star players whose bodies were remembered at the worst time.
Cape Verde, who will play their first World Cup, is in uncertainty with their defensive rock Logan Costa. The latter, injured for several months, has not yet found the grounds with his club, Villarreal.
Lack of game time
Others don’t get hurt but are absent in another way: they simply don’t play anymore. Senegal is decidedly uncertain about several players. Pape Matar Sarr, Ibrahim Mbaye, Mamadou Sarr or even Mamadou Diakhon are content with crumbs in the club. The same goes for Egypt’s Omar Marmoush at Manchester City. Shining in Frankfurt last year, the right-footer is just a shadow of his former self this season.
Yoane Wissa is also experiencing a shortage that makes one question his real form at the time of major events. The Congolese has not scored since December with Newcastle, he who has only started 4 Premier League games this season in the jersey of Magpies.
The Algerian Himad Abdelli, who has had to make do with crumbs since his arrival in Marseille, must now deal with a coach who has him in the crosshairs since the draw against Nice last weekend.