Senegal captain and 2021 Africa Cup of Nations champion Kalidou Koulibaly has tipped the upcoming AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast to be the best one yet.
With the top teams on the continent present in the tournament this time around, the Saudi-based defender believes African fans will get the best showing from their respective national sides.
“I think that the Côte d’Ivoire edition will be the best in history of the competition because all the big teams are present and are fully prepared,” Koulibaly said while speaking to CAF.
“It will show the true image of African football, and I think that whoever wins the title in the end will deserve it.”
Koulibaly also sent out a message to the Senegalese people to keep the team in their prayers, as the Teranga Lions will be looking to defend the title they won three years ago in Cameroon.
“I ask the Senegalese fans to be behind us during the competition and to pray for us in their prayers,” the Al-Hilal defender added.
“Their support we will take us far in the competition, and we will represent them well and give them a big gift in the end.”
Reigning champions, strike a pose. ???????????? @Fsfofficielle | #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/Ud27OAhNfV
— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 10, 2024
The former Napoli and Chelsea man touched down in Ivory Coast with his teammates on Wednesday. Senegal arrived in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast’s capital city, where they will play all their group games, which will be played at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium.
Aliou Cisse’s men are drawn in Group C, dubbed the Group of Death, alongside 2017 winners Cameroon, Guinea, and The Gambia.
The Teranga Lions, who are one of the tournament’s contenders, having played in the last two AFCON finals in 2019 and 2021, will kick off their title defense on January 15 against the Scorpions.
They will play the Indomitable Lions on January 19 in their second group game before rounding up action in the group phase against the National Elephants on January 23.
