Kalidou Koulibaly at a Crossroads Between France and Senegal
At just 23, Kalidou Koulibaly is already making waves as a defensive pillar at Napoli, but he now finds himself at the center of an international tug-of-war — between France, the country that shaped his footballing career, and Senegal, the land of his heritage.
The decision looms large, especially as Senegal has already booked its place for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), giving the Lions of Teranga an edge in timing. In contrast, France’s next competitive fixture won’t come until March, offering Koulibaly a longer window for reflection.
“I haven’t decided who I want to play for yet — France or Senegal. We’ll see,” Koulibaly told Foot-Mercato.net.
“I’ve had some approaches, but nothing is decided. I prefer to put that on hold.”
The defender stressed that the decision won’t be made lightly, citing the importance of involving those closest to him:
“I’ll talk about it with my family, my friends, and my girlfriend. I’m still young. I’m 23. I shouldn’t rush. The selection will come when it comes. It’s not an immediate objective.”
With both national teams closely monitoring his situation, the choice remains entirely in the hands of Koulibaly. But with Senegal heading to Equatorial Guinea for CAN 2015, the pressure to decide may come sooner rather than later.
