Senegal veterans Koulibaly and Gana Gueye force Patrick Vieira to rethink his plans

Kalidou Koulibaly and Idrissa Gana Gueye strengthened their case for continued involvement with Senegal by helping Patrick Vieira’s side beat Comoros 1-0 in a friendly at Stade Velodrome in Marseille.

Both players had been left out of Senegal’s starting XI at the beginning of the international gathering, prompting suggestions that their international careers could be nearing an end. But their performances on Sunday gave Vieira fresh reasons to consider the experience they still offer.

Vieira made extensive changes to the team against Comoros, having introduced eight new players in his first Senegal squad. Koulibaly and Gana Gueye had not started either the match against Mozambique or the game with Ethiopia, increasing doubts about their roles as the team begins to move towards a new generation.

At 35 and 37, the two senior players appeared to be directly affected by that transition. Their return to the starting line-up, however, proved significant.

Gana Gueye operated in front of the defence and provided Senegal with a reliable reference point throughout the match. He made himself available in the first phase of possession, kept his passing simple and helped secure the team’s movement of the ball.

That allowed Pape Matar Sarr and 18-year-old Bara Sapoko Ndiaye to move forward with greater freedom. When Senegal lost possession, the former Paris player covered for his team-mates and contributed to the counter-press.

Gana Gueye also came close to scoring a second goal before half-time, but his effort was saved by the Comoros goalkeeper. His display was not spectacular, but it underlined the quality that makes him difficult to replace: he improves the players around him.

Koulibaly, meanwhile, faced a more competitive situation in central defence. His place in the starting side, and even his position as captain, had been questioned following Vieira’s appointment and Senegal’s troubled World Cup.

Partnered with the young Mamadou Sarr, Koulibaly produced a composed and authoritative performance. He made several important interventions in the first half, then grew stronger after the interval and remained alert during Comoros’ strongest spell.

He also used possession to play progressive passes and help Senegal move beyond the opponents’ first line of pressure. Alongside a less experienced defender, Koulibaly again showed the leadership that could preserve his importance in Vieira’s developing project.

The 1-0 victory does not remove every doubt. Both players must still prove they can cope with opponents who impose a higher tempo. Their performances nevertheless reopened the discussion over their international futures.

When a journalist described the pair as “has-beens” after the match, Vieira interrupted immediately.

“That is disrespectful,” said the Senegal manager, insisting they were “exemplary on and off the pitch” and continued to make history for Senegal.

Koulibaly and Gana Gueye may no longer automatically represent the future of the Lions, but they can still contribute to the rebuilding process if they accept greater competition and potentially different roles.

As Vieira put it: “Performances like that will make my decisions even more difficult.”