Kalidou Koulibaly: Al-Hilal issue another injury update

Al-Hilal head coach Simone Inzaghi has given a timeline of when Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly could return from injury for the Saudi Pro League side.

Koulibaly, who was injured during a training session, recently consulted a specialist to assess his thigh injury. However, the length of the Senegalese defender’s absence remains unknown.

With six league matches remaining for the Blue and Whites and the 2026 FIFA World Cup less than two months away, Inzaghi has maintained Koulibaly is not able to run at the moment but may not need surgery to repair the injury.

Koulibaly not able to run at the moment

“We have two injured players, Malcom and Koulibaly. Malcom is back and naturally ready, while Koulibaly suffered a thigh contusion, which caused a hematoma,” said Inzaghi as quoted by Wiw Sport.

“We are monitoring his condition daily, and his return will depend on his response to treatment over the next few days. I don’t know when Kalidou Koulibaly will return. He is not able to run at the moment.”

In a recent interview, the former Inter Milan coach said on Koulibaly: “Kalidou Koulibaly has completed his rehabilitation program at the Meena clinic, at the club’s headquarters, after medical examinations in Spain showed he needed additional treatment sessions for his injury in the anterior thigh muscle.”

Koulibaly last played for Senegal at AFCON

Suspended for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, Koulibaly hasn’t played for Senegal since the semifinal against Egypt. He was recently named in Senegal squad for friendly matches against Peru and the Gambia.

However, he was not able to take part. The 34-year-old, who has already gained 103 caps and two AFCON titles with the Lions of Teranga, believes the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by sixteen cities—eleven in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada, could be his last in Senegal colours.

The tournament will be the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted by three nations, and the first to include 48 teams, an expansion from 32.