Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly has made it clear that winning the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) takes precedence over qualifying for the World Cup.
“I would never trade winning the AFCON for qualifying to the World Cup,” Koulibaly said, emphasizing his team’s focus on the continental title.
Koulibaly’s statement comes as Senegal looks to win the AFCON title again after they won in 2021.
The team has been performing well, with Koulibaly leading the charge alongside players like Sadio Mane and Edouard Mendy.
Their opening match of the 2025 AFCON is against Botswana on December 23, 2025, in the AFCON group stage.
