Four African national team captains are currently battling injuries with exactly one month remaining before the start of the 2026 World Cup, raising growing concern among supporters across the continent ahead of football’s biggest tournament.
The World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico begins on 11 June and runs until 19 July, but several key African stars remain unavailable at a critical stage of preparation.
Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly, Morocco skipper Achraf Hakimi, Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessié and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah are all dealing with physical problems as the countdown continues.
Among the four cases, Koulibaly’s situation appears to be the most concerning.
The Senegal defender, who has long been regarded as one of the leaders of the Lions, has been sidelined since the beginning of April with a thigh injury complicated by a significant hematoma.
The issue has already kept the 34-year-old out for several weeks and uncertainty continues to surround the exact timeline for his return.
Koulibaly’s coach at Al-Hilal, Simone Inzaghi, added to the concern with comments describing the injury as unusual.
Although no official recovery period has been confirmed, estimates suggest the defender could remain out between four and eight weeks because of the nature of the problem.
That timeline places serious doubt over his readiness for the World Cup.
The Senegal captain has earned 102 international caps and scored two goals for his country.
His experience and leadership have made him one of the most influential figures in the national team over the past decade.
The current situation is especially emotional because Koulibaly has already admitted this could be his final World Cup appearance if he is selected for the tournament squad.
While Senegal remain worried about their captain, Morocco are receiving more encouraging news regarding Achraf Hakimi.
The Paris Saint-Germain defender suffered a hamstring problem on 28 April during the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final.
The sight of the Moroccan captain going down immediately caused anxiety among supporters, especially with the World Cup approaching rapidly.
However, optimism has gradually returned over recent days.
Several reliable reports, including information from RMC Sport, indicate that Hakimi’s recovery is progressing positively.
PSG manager Luis Enrique also attempted to calm fears during a recent press conference.
“There’s nothing serious,” he said.
The 27-year-old right-back is now expected to be available for PSG’s Champions League final against Arsenal on 30 May, a development that would also strengthen confidence within the Moroccan national team setup ahead of the tournament.
Hakimi remains one of Morocco’s most important players.
With 95 international appearances and 11 goals, he has become one of the key figures behind the Atlas Lions’ recent success on the international stage.
Ivory Coast captain Franck Kessié has also generated concern after picking up an injury during a Saudi Pro League match on 6 May.
The midfielder was forced off after feeling discomfort in his hamstring, creating immediate fears among Ivory Coast supporters only weeks before the World Cup.
Fortunately for the Elephants, early indications suggest the issue may not be serious.
According to journalist Patrick Guitey, medical examinations reportedly revealed only minor hamstring discomfort without significant muscle damage.
Kessié is also believed to have requested the substitution himself as a precautionary measure rather than because of a severe injury.
That update has brought some relief for Ivory Coast, who view the 29-year-old as a central figure in midfield because of his physical strength, leadership and experience.
Meanwhile, Egypt captain Mohamed Salah is also recovering from a muscle issue, although his case appears less alarming than some of the others.
The Liverpool forward has been dealing with a hamstring injury since the end of April, but several reports describe the problem as minor.
His participation in the World Cup is therefore not considered under threat at this stage.
Salah could even return to action on 24 May for Liverpool’s final match before joining Egypt’s national team camp ahead of the tournament.
At 33 years old, Salah remains the face of Egyptian football.
With 113 appearances and 65 goals for his country, he continues to carry enormous expectations whenever Egypt competes on the international stage.
As the World Cup draws closer, African supporters now face an anxious wait over the fitness of several of the continent’s biggest stars.
While some nations remain optimistic, others are still holding their breath as key captains race against time to be ready for football’s biggest event.
