« Three decades of football experience, and my eyes have never seen an injury like Kalidou Koulibaly’s, » confessed Simone Inzaghi, head coach of Al-Hilal, sending shockwaves through Sénégal earlier this month. The news came as a massive blow to the nation’s football fans, especially after the 34-year-old defensive rock of the Lions de la Teranga suffered the injury during training. With the World Cup 2026 looming, Koulibaly’s absence from the tournament remains uncertain after he was ruled out of the African Cup of Nations final in January.

For Sénégal, this setback is particularly harsh. The team, now led by coach Pape Thiaw, lost the African Cup title to Morocco following a controversial court decision by the CAF Appeals Board. To make matters worse, the Lions face an uphill battle in the World Cup group stage, where they will face formidable opponents like France in their opening match on June 16 at the MetLife Stadium in New York. The road only gets tougher with games against Norway—featuring star player Erling Haaland—and Iraq in the group stage.

Will the lion’s captain make the 26-man squad?

The latest medical reports on Koulibaly’s condition are grim. An ultrasound revealed a severe subcutaneous hematoma in his thigh, later confirmed as a grade 2 muscle tear. According to Sport News Africa, the injury requires four to eight weeks of recovery, effectively ending his season with Al-Hilal, which still has four matches left in the Saudi Pro League.

Now, all eyes are on coach Pape Thiaw, who must decide whether to include Koulibaly in the final 26-man squad. The veteran defender’s experience and leadership could prove invaluable during the tournament. The Sénégal team reconvenes in two weeks for two high-stakes friendlies—against the United States on May 31 in Charlotte and Saudi Arabia on June 9 in San Antonio. While Moussa Niakhaté and Mamadou Sarr formed a defensive partnership in the AFCON final, concerns remain about Sarr’s recent lack of playtime at Chelsea.