Élimination des Lions : Kalidou Koulibaly brise le silence
Several days after the Lions' elimination, Kalidou Koulibaly chose to break his silence . In a lengthy message addressed to the Senegalese people on X, the national team captain takes responsibility for the defeat, asks for forgiveness from the Senegalese people, and responds to the numerous controversies surrounding the team's performance.
“Since our elimination, the nights have been long,” the Senegalese defender confided, referring to the pain of a campaign that ended far below the group’s ambitions. “We wanted to make you proud (…). Unfortunately, we didn’t live up to our ambitions,” he admitted.
On behalf of the team, Kalidou Koulibaly thanked the fans for their unwavering support before assuming his role as captain. "I fully accept this elimination. We share the responsibility. We simply weren't good enough to continue this journey," he wrote, while also acknowledging that the sporting criticism is "legitimate."
The Lions' captain, however, is keen to put an end to the accusations levelled against certain players following their elimination. He denounces the attacks on their integrity and defends a group that was "united, supportive, and deeply professional" from the first to the last day of the competition.
Faced with rumors of alleged influence over national team selections, Kalidou Koulibaly is categorical. "I have never chosen a single player for a national team. I have never prevented a single player from joining the national team, nor have I asked for anyone's exclusion," he affirms.
Without commenting on the role of the technical staff or the Senegalese Football Federation, the defender believes that everyone will have to assume their responsibilities in due time.
Despite the disappointment, Kalidou Koulibaly refuses to let this elimination overshadow the achievements of this generation, African champions in 2022, 2025 and authors of several historic performances for Senegalese football.
He promises that the Lions will work to regain the trust of the Senegalese people. "This trust cannot be claimed with words, but earned on the field," he emphasizes, before concluding on a hopeful note: "The Lion sometimes falls. But the Lion always gets back up."
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