Kalidou Koulibaly sends a strong message after leading Senegal to the FIFA World Cup knockout stages
Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly issued a strong message after his team qualified for the knockout stages of the 2022 FIFA World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Ecuador on Tuesday, November 30.
Ismaila Sarr scored from the penalty spot for the African team in the 44th minute, but Moises Caicedo equalised for Ecuador in the second half. Koulibaly then scored the game-winning goal in the 70th minute.
Senegal received a huge blow before the World Cup as star forward Sadio Mane was ruled out with an injury. Many predicted that the reigning African champions would struggle in the showpiece event without the Bayern Munich star.
Before the Round of 16 stage, Koulibaly addressed the notion and sent a chilling message to their opponents. He stated (as reported by Mirror):
- "Probably two-thirds of the world thought we wouldn't go through after Sadio's injury." But we're a family, a well-oiled machine. There is a desire to advance past the quarter-finals. We continue to believe, and we want to tell the story of Senegalese football.
- "The next game will be difficult, as every game is." But the team that plays against us will be nervous. They can see that we have a lot of talent and that we can accomplish great things."
Senegal collected six points from their three group games. After losing to the Netherlands in the first game, they rebounded with victories over Qatar and Ecuador.
In the Round of 16, Koulibaly and company will face England. Senegal last advanced to the knockout stages in 2002, losing to Turkey in the quarter-finals.
The team's captain at the time was Aliou Cisse. He is the manager of Senegal two decades later.
Aliou Cisse, Senegal's coach, is cautious ahead of the match against England.
Senegal coach Cisse urged his team to be prepared for a completely different challenge in the Round of 16 against England.
As reported by Cisse, Football 365
- "That will be a new experience for us." We know we're moving on to the knockout stages, which will be very different from how we've been playing in these types of (group) matches. Everyone is a good team, one of the best teams in the world competing."
- "Therefore, we need to be prepared to come up against any side. It is now a win or lose situation, there are no second chances – if you win, you go through, if you lose, you go home. So for the moment, we are just going to concentrate on resting and getting fit for the next game, it is simple as that.”
On Sunday, December 4, England will face Senegal at the Al Bayt Stadium.
