Kalidou Koulibaly reacts to being substituted during Senegal’s defeat to Norway

The captain of the Lions of Teranga was keen to emphasise that the manager’s decisions are made in the best interests of the team and must be respected by all players.

Kalidou Koulibaly was substituted in the 72nd minute by Pape Matar Sarr during Senegal’s 3–2 defeat to Norway on matchday two of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. This decision surprised some observers given the status of the Teranga Lions’ captain. But for Kalidou Koulibaly, no player is above the team, not even the captain.

“My substitution? As I’ve said in the past, no one has a guaranteed place. Everyone is at the team’s disposal. If the coach decided to take me off, he has the right to do so. And it’s because he saw that I wasn’t helping the team. That’s part and parcel of football. Physically, I’m feeling better and better; it didn’t go the way I wanted it to today, which is a shame.”