World Cup 2026: Senegal capable of reaching the final – Kalidou Koulibaly

Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly has expressed strong confidence in the national team’s ability to make history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting that the Lions of Teranga have what it takes to reach the final of the tournament.

The veteran defender believes Senegal possess the talent, discipline and mentality needed to compete with the world’s best teams as they prepare for their third consecutive appearance at the World Cup.

Koulibaly Sets Ambitious Target

Speaking in an interview with French broadcaster RMC, Koulibaly revealed that he is aiming for Senegal to enjoy its most successful World Cup campaign yet.

“We know we are capable of great things, and I hope we can achieve them,” Koulibaly said.

“My goal is for Senegal to go as far as possible, and why not reach the final?”

Senegal face a difficult challenge in Group A, where they will come up against France, Iraq and Norway. Despite the strength of the opposition, the experienced defender remains optimistic about his side’s chances.

Humility Remains Key

While setting ambitious goals, Koulibaly stressed that Senegal must remain grounded throughout the competition.

The 35-year-old defender acknowledged the difficulty of competing at the World Cup but believes his team has the necessary qualities to succeed.

“We will also remain humble. It is the World Cup; we know it will be very difficult, but we also know that we have the talent, quality, humility and professionalism needed to go as far as possible.”

Senegal Backed as the World’s Best Team

In one of the most eye-catching remarks from the interview, Koulibaly described Senegal as the best team in the world from his perspective.

Although he recognised the presence of elite nations and world-class players at the tournament, he maintained complete faith in his country’s abilities.

“For me, Senegal is the best team in the world. We know there are other teams and world-class players. We know it will be very difficult.”

He added that the team’s mission is to inspire supporters back home.

“Our goal is to make the Senegalese people dream.”

Importance of Mental Strength

Koulibaly also highlighted the role of mentality in achieving success on football’s biggest stage.

According to the defender, belief, discipline and resilience will be essential if Senegal are to fulfil their ambitions.

“It requires playing matches, being humble, enduring hardships, and being extremely disciplined.”

“It’s all about mental strength and self-confidence, because no one will do the work for them.”

He further emphasised the importance of self-belief within the squad.

“This also means believing in our ability to beat any team. No one will believe it for us if we don’t believe it ourselves.”

“We know we are capable of putting on a great performance at the World Cup.”

Quarter Finals the Immediate Objective

Despite discussing the possibility of reaching the final, Koulibaly outlined a more immediate target for the team.

The defender said Senegal’s first objective is to progress beyond the quarter finals, a feat the nation has never achieved at the World Cup.

“Our expectations are very high. We hope to at least get past the quarter-finals; that is our first goal. After that, we all have a dream.”

Senegal Looking to Build on World Cup History

Senegal will be making its third straight World Cup appearance after qualifying for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

The country’s best performance came at the 2002 World Cup, where the Lions of Teranga enjoyed a remarkable run to the quarter finals before eventually being eliminated by Turkey.

With a talented squad and growing confidence, Senegal will be hoping to surpass that achievement and make a deep run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.