Senegal is set to face Rwanda and Algeria in the upcoming international break in September. These two matches could be missed by Kalidou Koulibaly due to a thigh injury.
Already qualified for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (which has been postponed to 2024 in Ivory Coast), Senegal will also participate in the next round of qualifying matches. The Teranga Lions will take on Rwanda on September 9th in the 6th round of qualifiers. Three days later, Aliou Cissé’s men will face Algeria in a high-profile encounter. These two matches hold little significance for the reigning African champions, as they can be played without their captain, Kalidou Koulibaly.
The former defender of Chelsea and Napoli sustained a thigh injury during the final of the Arab Club Champions Cup, which was lost to Al Nassr. As Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) announced in a statement, the Senegalese international will be unavailable in the coming weeks. “The Lions’ captain is injured and will be sidelined for a few weeks. Medical examinations undergone by the Al-Hilal player have confirmed a rupture of the posterior thigh muscle, and he will be out for a period of 2 to 4 weeks.”
Kalidou Koulibaly might therefore not be fit enough for the upcoming national team fixtures.
