Koulibaly: 'It's Unfortunate Some Doubt Us After Congo Draw; They Will Make a Stir at AFCON'

Kalidou Koulibaly, the Senegalese national team defender, expressed his regret over the doubts cast on the capabilities of the "Teranga Lions" simply because of their draw against DR Congo. He affirmed that his team will work hard to reach the furthest possible stage in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Koulibaly stated in press remarks: "The gift the players gave me is our qualification as group leaders. It's unfortunate that some doubt us after a draw against a strong team like Congo. They proved their strength by beating Botswana 3-0, and I believe Congo will make a stir in this tournament."

Regarding his absence from the Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 match against Sudan, he clarified: "It's true, the same thing happened to me against Benin when I received a card in the semi-final that prevented me from playing the 2019 final, but today I am calm. I know we have 28 players ready to play at any time, and we will do everything to win in the Round of 16. What matters to me is that Senegal advances as far as possible."

He added: "If you are not united, a red card can destabilize the team, but we showed composure despite being numerically disadvantaged. We also saw that against Congo; we conceded a goal, remained calm, and quickly equalized."

He concluded: "In such situations, we insist on staying together and understanding each other well. I emphasize this principle greatly because it is linked to humility and team spirit; that each of us runs for the other. We realize that we carry a heavy jersey on our shoulders, so there is no room for selfishness within this team. This is what I aspire to, as altruism remains extremely important."