Pape Thiaw : "Pourquoi j'ai sorti Kalidou Koulibaly du onze"
After struggling against France and then suffering a heavy defeat against Norway, the captain of the Lions of Senegal was benched for the resounding 5-0 victory against Iraq. A bold decision, which Pape Thiaw explained by the need to prioritize the team's well-being.
A pillar of the Senegalese defense for years, Kalidou Koulibaly is experiencing a very difficult 2026 World Cup. Arriving out of shape after an injury that sidelined him for two months, the captain was overwhelmed against France and especially Norway, a match in which he was at fault for all three goals conceded by the Lions.
With their backs against the wall after two defeats, Pape Thiaw replaced him with Abdoulaye Seck for the third match, a resounding victory against Iraq. "He's a pillar of this team, and we know that. But we felt we had to put someone else in. He's the captain, and we know what he represents, but we thought about the team. He's also behind the group and the team. There's no problem," Pape Thiaw told Belgian media outlet RTBF.
Against Belgium, in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup, Kalidou Koulibaly is expected to remain on the bench again.
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