Kalidou Koulibaly: Al-Hilal provides an update on Senegal absence

Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly failed to show up for the team’s friendly matches during the FIFA Series.

This was despite the fact, the Lions of Teranga captain had been named in the squad for friendly matches against Peru and Gambia as part of Senegal’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“حسان ومتعب” يشاركان في التدريبات الجماعية، و”كنو وكوليبالي” يتواجدان في عيادة “مينا” الطبية 🔹 pic.twitter.com/sF9TVpkcMO

— نادي الهلال السعودي (@Alhilal_FC) April 2, 2026

Senegal won both friendly matches, defeating Peru 2-0, and the Scorpions 3-1. His club in Saudi Pro League Al-Hilal has issued a statement to confirm why Koulibaly missed the two friendly matches.

Koulibaly went for check up due to muscle pain

“Khalidou Koulibaly and Mohammed Kanno went to the Meena Clinic, at the club’s headquarters, due to muscle pain in the front of their thighs,” Al-Hilal announced, without specifying the length of the defender’s absence.

Senegal will face France in opener

The injury could be a huge blow for Senegal is if their captain will not be fit to play at the World Cup, which will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and will be jointly hosted by sixteen cities—eleven in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.

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.

Senegal will face France in their Group J opener, before taking on Norway, and winding up their fixtures against Iraq.

The African champions will face France at MetLife Stadium on June 16. Senegal and France have played only one senior international match, with Senegal securing a historic 1-0 victory over the reigning world champions in the 2002 FIFA World Cup opener.

Papa Bouba Diop scored the only goal in the 30th minute of that match, marking a major, iconic upset for the tournament debutants.