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On the eve of the Africa Cup of Nations, Kalidou Koulibaly leans ahead and makes a giant assertion. “This AFCON shall be probably the greatest,” he tells Sky Sports activities from Senegal’s camp within the Ivory Coast.
It’s maybe uncommon for the captain of the event holders to lavish reward on his group’s competitors. However that simply sums up the AFCON spirit. This competitors shouldn’t be about Senegal, nor another nation. It is an opportunity for the whole continent to indicate its high quality by itself stage.
This unity has been seen in current World Cups: the whole continent getting behind Ghana in 2010 because the final African group standing. The identical with Morocco – who turned the primary African facet to ever attain the final 4 in Qatar 2022.
Now Africa stands as one once more amid current upheaval in its continental competitors. It was moved again to the winter two years in the past on account of an incapability to play in the summertime warmth, thereby citing the mid-season ‘membership vs nation’ row. However the variety of high quality gamers out within the Ivory Coast proper now reveals the worth of this event.
“Us older gamers, we’ve to be proud to be African and to respect our nationwide group and play for our nationwide group,” says Koulibaly.
“For me, Africa would be the future. I hope all people is aware of that and they’ll do every little thing to make African soccer go up.
“For me, it is not nearly Senegal, it is about Africa. Now we have to work collectively to make the extent of Africa go up.
“We will see that within the World Cup with Morocco going into the semi-finals. Everybody was completely satisfied, however for me it was regular as a result of we deserved it. We will present sooner or later that African groups could be able to win a World Cup quickly.”
Proper now, nevertheless, the considering is on AFCON and this event’s essential magnificence is its unpredictability. In contrast to the ever-popular World Cup, no group has ever gained it twice in a row and present holders Senegal, together with their captain, settle for this narrative.
“We give it some thought – however we all know that each AFCON has its story. Now it is a new story as a result of you’ve got quite a lot of groups who shall be able to win the title. We need to be a part of these groups,” provides Koulibaly.
“We all know it is going to be actually tough for us as a result of no person desires a group to win it two occasions in a row. However we need to make it the story in our nation.
“Will probably be very tough as a result of Cameroon, Algeria, Morocco, Ghana, Nigeria – all people is prepared for this competitors. For a very long time, we have not seen so lots of the huge groups so in kind.
“We’ll see good competitors and a superb stage – and the winner of this AFCON can have quite a lot of success sooner or later.
“Now we have quite a lot of groups which we’re 100 per cent certain of, however some groups we’re not. As a result of in AFCON, it is not simple. You might have the temperature, the local weather, the pitch, the time of once you play, we should take every little thing into consideration.
“So I can not let you know if we’re higher than two years in the past, however for certain we’re extra skilled. That is certain. The remaining? We are going to see on the finish of the competitors. However I feel Senegal have what it takes to see out AFCON.”
Senegal in solidarity as Jackson approaches huge stage
Unity was additionally the secret for Senegal two years in the past in Cameroon, as Koulibaly led his group to its first-ever AFCON title.
The defender, alongside goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and others, missed the primary two video games on account of a coronavirus outbreak amongst a number of the squad. It threatened to derail their marketing campaign, however the method of restoration was one of many huge classes realized.
Requested concerning the secrets and techniques to their success, Koulibaly replies: “The solidarity. We had quite a lot of difficulties in the beginning of the final AFCON.
“We had Covid so quite a lot of gamers had been absent for the primary video games. We missed 4 or 5 gamers from the 2 first video games, it was actually tough.
“It was actually tough watching these video games in my room, alone with Edouard Mendy. However as we speak, solidarity will assist us win the title and to win video games.”
Maybe this yr, that solidarity shall be useful for Nicolas Jackson, a striker wanting and wasteful at Chelsea this season. The ahead joins Koulibaly, previously of the Blues himself, within the Senegal squad for this tournamenet – however there may be sympathy from the nationwide group captain about life at Stamford Bridge.
“I do know that at Chelsea, it is tough to be a striker as we speak,” he says. “I used to be there final yr and noticed it was very tough to attain targets, and he has seven already? You’ll be able to see it is a good begin for him.
“Perhaps individuals are ready for extra from him, however do not forget he is a younger participant and it is a first yr for him within the Premier League.
“We within the nationwide group give him quite a lot of recommendation. Me and Edouard Mendy, who was additionally at Chelsea, we all know what the membership is like and we all know the individuals are there and we all know he can have an ideal future over there if he retains working like he was working. Not talking, simply working – that is the important thing.
“We all know the massive golf equipment, they need quite a lot of issues from strikers as a result of Chelsea have quite a lot of good historical past with strikers – Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o. These gamers had been superb and as we speak they’re in search of the historic striker and it is tough to offer that work to Nico.”
‘You’ll be able to play in Saudi and be aggressive’
Two years in the past, Senegal’s captain, goalkeeper and star participant had been all enjoying at Champions League-level golf equipment. Now Koulibaly, Mendy and Sadio Mane all ply their trades in Saudi Arabia.
Koulibaly, of present Saudi top-flight leaders Al Hilal, was one of many first gamers in Europe to leap throughout to the Center East nation – and now he desires to be the primary to indicate that such a transfer might help affect success on the worldwide stage.
“Everybody was considering: ‘nah, he is ended up in Saudi Arabia, it is going to be simple. He’ll simply go to coaching, take the cash and go house’. However it’s not like this,” Koulibaly says.
“Once I signed there, it was first to win titles with my membership. Secondly, it was about having video games to play – as I used to be not enjoying so much at Chelsea. It was tough for me to indicate my stage, a participant used to enjoying each recreation, enjoying one recreation sure and 4 video games no. The third motive was the challenge of the Saudi Arabia league.
“We will see that everyone is completely satisfied, Sadio is completely satisfied in his membership, Edou is simply too. An important is to convey this positivity to the nationwide group and for us it is necessary. Persons are writing quite a lot of issues about us, we’ve to indicate them that it’s not a trip in Saudi Arabia – however it was working to be prepared for this AFCON.
“I will not deceive you, it is a possibility to indicate all people that you would be able to play in Saudi Arabia and win titles together with your nationwide groups. All people was asking questions once we signed over there – however once they see the extent we’ve within the nationwide group, we’ve the identical because the others.
“Our goal is to win the AFCON – it is going to be tough, we all know it – and we’ll give every little thing for this goal. However my second goal is to indicate that in Saudi Arabia, you may play in a superb league with quite a lot of good gamers and be aggressive within the nationwide group.”
Kalidou Koulibaly spoke to Sky Sports activities representing PUMA, who’ve signed long-term settlement to turn into the official technical associate of CAF. PUMA shall be supplying the official match ball at CAF tournaments, offering the equipment for referees, and fascinating in a number of advertising alternatives, each inside and outdoors of the stadium.
Watch each match of this yr’s Africa Cup of Nations stay on Sky Sports activities, together with Senegal’s opening match vs Gambia on Monday, kick-off 2pm
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