The prolonged absence of Kalidou Koulibaly, Senegal’s esteemed defender and captain for Al-Hilal, due to a persistent thigh injury, is raising significant alarm with the FIFA World Cup less than two months away.
Across Senegal, a growing sense of unease surrounds the unavailability of their pivotal central defender and national team captain, Kalidou Koulibaly. The 34-year-old, boasting an impressive 102 caps and 2 goals, has not featured for his Saudi Pro League club, Al-Hilal, since April 8th.
Sustaining a thigh injury during a training session, the former Napoli star’s return to competitive play remains undefined, with the World Cup looming just over six weeks away. The Lions of Teranga are scheduled to compete against France, Norway, and Iraq in Group I of the tournament.
al-hilal offers no definite return date
During his most recent press briefing, Al-Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi adopted a cautious stance regarding injuries. He commented, « We currently have two players sidelined: Malcom and Koulibaly. Malcom has made his return and is naturally prepared. As for Koulibaly, he sustained a contusion to the thigh which led to a hematoma. We are monitoring his condition daily, and his comeback will be contingent on how he responds to treatment in the upcoming days, » the Italian tactician stated.
The Saudi club further clarified, « Kalidou Koulibaly has been diligently following his rehabilitation regimen at the Meena clinic, located at the club’s headquarters. This follows medical assessments conducted in Spain, which indicated a requirement for additional treatment sessions for his injury, specifically in the anterior thigh muscle. » With only six league fixtures remaining for Al-Hilal, the situation surrounding his availability remains uncertain. Having already missed the Africa Cup of Nations final and the March friendly matches against Peru (2-0) and Gambia (3-1), a crucial question lingers: will Kalidou Koulibaly be able to play again before the World Cup commences?
