Arriving in Juba on Saturday, head coach Patrick Vieira’s Lions face Sudan on Monday in the return leg of the CAN 2027 qualifiers. Before that match, defender and captain Kalidou Koulibaly is facing criticism after the 4-1 in Dakar.
The Senegalese delegation touched down in Juba on Saturday 14 November at 10:30 local time aboard a special flight from Dakar, Sunusport reports. The Lions then checked into the Imperial Hotel, located right next to the national stadium in Juba.
No training session is scheduled for Saturday: the staff are prioritising recovery, with only a light muscle-activation session at the hotel, according to Senego. Defender Nobel Mendy, who is injured, is the only absentee from the squad. On the pitch, Senegal beat Sudan 4-1 on Thursday 12 November in Dakar, on matchday 3 of the CAN 2027 qualifiers.
Next stop Juba
The return leg is set for Monday 16 November 2026 at 13:00 GMT (15:00 local time) at the Juba stadium, according to Senego. The Lions lead Group J with 7 points after three matchdays. Against James Kwesi Appiah’s Sudan, they want to confirm this strong start to the campaign.
Senegal remain unbeaten under Patrick Vieira: 1-1 in Mozambique, 1-0 in Ethiopia, then 4-1 against Sudan, according to Sports Mole. Sudan are ranked 118th in the world, against 18th for Senegal, and the two teams have met nine times without a single Sudanese win.
Koulibaly in the firing line
It is against this backdrop that Kalidou Koulibaly’s performances are being questioned. Radio Foot Internationale columnist Rémy Ngono strongly criticised the Senegalese captain after Senegal-Sudan, judging that he is no longer up to the standard.
Ngono said in particular: “You have a freight train behind him going at tortoise speed. All the goals Senegal have conceded in the last 3-4 matches (came from) Kalidou Koulibaly’s mistakes.” For some Senegalese observers, Koulibaly was the main culprit for the Sudanese goal in Thursday’s match.