Their absence did not go unnoticed. Beaten by the United States (2-3) in their first pre-2026 match, Senegal went without two of their most experienced leaders: Kalidou Koulibaly and Idrissa Gana Gueye. Ten days before the clash with France, scheduled for June 16 in New York, the condition of the two veterans has become one of the main subjects of concern around the Lair. If concerns exist, the latest news from the Senegalese camp is nevertheless reassuring.
Koulibaly, two months without playing, but an imminent comeback
The case of Kalidou Koulibaly was probably the one that worried most. Injured in the thigh after a contact with a teammate during training with Al Hilal, the Lions captain has not played any games since April 8. A two-month absence that could have jeopardized his preparation for the World Cup.
But on Sunday, during a special broadcast of RMC relocated to Dakar, the 34-year-old central defender made a point of reassuring everyone. "I feel very good. We did things intelligently. We didn’t want to rush it. I feel very good," insisted the African champion. The Senegalese defender even revealed that he had resumed group sessions with the group for several days.
«I’ve been back with the band for a few days. We’ll try to see if I might play against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. It’s up to the coach,"
he explained.
The friendly match against Saudi Arabia thus appears as a general rehearsal before the rendezvous against the Blues. Even if he only plays part of the match, Koulibaly could regain precious sensations after a long period of inactivity.
Gana Gueye resumed normally
The other case concerns Idrissa Gana Gueye. The Senegalese vice-captain has not played since 25 April and a defeat by Everton against West Ham (2-1) in the Premier League. At the age of 36, the midfielder had suffered an injury contracted during training with his English club. Fortunately for him and for Senegal, medical examinations had quickly ruled out any serious injury. Since joining the national team, the former Paris Saint-Germain player has returned to a normal work schedule. According to information from the Senegalese staff, he has trained without restriction in recent days and is now considered operational.
As with Koulibaly, the match against Saudi Arabia should serve as a real test. A start is not excluded, even if the most likely scenario remains an entry in the second half to gradually regain the rhythm of the competition.
Two essential frameworks for Senegal
Beyond their status as starters, Koulibaly and Gana Gueye embody the backbone of this golden generation of Senegalese football. Together, they have more than 220 international selections and represent two essential relays for Pape Thiaw on the field as in the locker room. Their experience will be particularly valuable in a high-profile group where Senegal will face France, Norway and Iraq. Against the United States, the Lions showed some defensive limits and a lack of balance in the game. The return of the duo could allow to find more stability and leadership when approaching the most important matches.
At this point, everything indicates that the captain and vice-captain of the Lions will be present at the meeting against France. Good news for Senegal, which will need all its experience to succeed in its entry into the biggest competition of world football.
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À propos de l'auteur
Philemon MBALE
Rédacteur sportif
Passionné de sport depuis toujours, partage avec vous les dernières actualités et analyses du monde sportif.