Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly targets victory in Ethiopia after Mozambique draw

Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly says his side must move on from their opening draw against Mozambique and focus on securing three points against Ethiopia in the second round of 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.

The Lions began their campaign with a 0-0 draw against Mozambique on Friday, a result Koulibaly described as a “trap match”. Senegal now face Ethiopia, with the Al Ahly (Saudi Arabia) defender acknowledging the importance of a positive result to get their qualification bid back on track.

“We are going to Ethiopia to try to take the three points. It is important for us, for this qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations, and to move forward,” Koulibaly said after Saturday’s training session in an interview with the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF).

The Senegal captain remains confident ahead of the match but knows his team cannot afford another setback. After dropping points in their first fixture, victory in Ethiopia would provide an early boost as they attempt to make progress in the qualifying group.

Senegal have also begun a new phase under a different technical staff since the end of the 2026 World Cup. Head coach Patrick Vieira has started to renew the squad, with several younger players receiving their first opportunities at international level.

Koulibaly welcomed the arrivals and said their integration would be important for the national team’s future. He stressed that the new players needed to feel comfortable within the squad while also making clear that Senegal’s previous work should not be forgotten.

“We have seen many new players who were there for their first cap. That is very good,” he said. “We need to continue integrating them because they are the future of this team. It is important that they feel good in the squad. It is a new beginning.

“But we should not forget what we have achieved with this team. The young players are here, and we must continue to integrate them.”

The trip to Ethiopia therefore represents both an immediate test of Senegal’s qualification ambitions and another opportunity for Vieira’s developing squad to build on its new direction. For Koulibaly, the priority is clear: recover from the opening draw, collect all three points and move forward in the race for a place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.