Coupe du monde 2026 : Des divergences entre Sadio Mané et Kalidou Koulibaly autour de Malang Sarr ?
Senegal's premature elimination in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup against Belgium continues to cause significant repercussions. While the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) is already weakened by several internal turmoil, new revelations highlight tensions that have also reportedly reached the Lions' locker room.
According to reports from the French media outlet Footmercato, disagreements arose among several key players in the national team even before the start of the competition. At the heart of these discussions was the Malang Sarr situation.
Having had a convincing season with RC Lens, the 27-year-old defender was not included in Pape Thiaw's final squad, having to settle for reserve status.
According to the same source, a meeting was organized before the World Cup between the coach and several leaders of the group, including Kalidou Koulibaly, Édouard Mendy and Idrissa Gana Guèye, to discuss the situation of the former Chelsea defender.
The discussions reportedly revealed opposing viewpoints. Sadio Mané was said to be in favor of integrating Malang Sarr into the squad, while Kalidou Koulibaly was firmly opposed. This disagreement is believed to have fueled a tense atmosphere within the national team.
The same source also claims that on the eve of the first match against France, which Les Bleus won 3-1, Sadio Mané believed that Kalidou Koulibaly, who was physically impaired upon arriving at the training camp, was not fit enough to start the match. The Senegalese striker reportedly suggested that Malang Sarr could replace him, a proposal that was very poorly received by the Lions' captain.
Since this episode, relations between the two key figures in the national team have reportedly deteriorated, according to this media outlet.
These revelations fuel the many questions about the atmosphere within the team during the World Cup and add to the criticisms already made against the management of the Senegalese team after its elimination.
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