Koulibaly focuses on World Cup glory after tumultuous year
Football fans have many different ways of showing their support for players, but it was still unusual when, in one of the most poignant displays of solidarity, thousands of Napoli supporters held photographs of Kalidou Koulibaly in front of their faces before a Serie A game earlier this year.
Ahead of their next league game a few days later, a group of Napoli fans issued a statement asking fans to print the photos of the defender to wear over their faces. Thousands of fans followed the call and when Koulibaly entered the stadium, he saw the display of solidarity. “When I saw our supporters with the picture in front of their faces, it really touched me.”
Thankfully, that was the only serious blemish on Koulibaly's season, which otherwise was outstanding on the pitch. The young defender played in all but three of Napoli's league matches in a season in which they finished second to Juventus and qualified for the UEFA Champions League.
Although Koulibaly played youth football for France, the defender last year decided to throw in his lot with Senegal and earned his first cap in a 2017 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Namibia in September.
The only time the Lions participated at the showpiece event of world football was in 2002, when they sensationally beat world champions France and reached the quarter-finals. “Our coach, Aliou Cisse, the team manager, Lamine Diatta, and the goalkeeper coach, Tony Sylva, all played in those finals. They have told us about their experiences and we want to relive them.”
The defender is full of praise for the former captain Cisse. “Since being appointed last year, he has rebuilt the side. In just over a year, he has already achieved results. I know that in Senegal, the fans and the media are demanding, and that is normal. But we must have time.