As the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2023 gears up for its highly anticipated 34th edition in Cote d’Ivoire, reigning champions Senegal, led by Captain Kalidou Koulibaly, express unwavering confidence in the face of a formidable tournament.
Koulibaly, a stalwart in Senegal’s defence, anticipates this to be one of the best AFCON tournaments in history, emphasizing the presence of all strong African nations.
“It will show the true image of African football, and I think that whoever wins the title in the end will deserve it.” He remarked.
Upon arriving in Cote d’Ivoire to defend their title, the Lions of Teranga acknowledge the challenging road ahead in Group C, which includes five-time winners Cameroon, The Gambia, and Guinea. Koulibaly acknowledges the tough competition.
“We will face a tougher challenge to retain our title because of the presence of the top teams.” He started.
Undeterred by the formidable opponents, Koulibaly urges Senegalese fans to rally behind the team and keep them in their prayers. He emphasizes the significance of their support.
“Their support will take us far in the competition, and we will represent them well and give them a big gift in the end.” He added.
Senegal, without a doubt, stands as one of the strong title contenders, having reached two consecutive TotalEnergies CAF AFCON finals in 2019 and 2021.
The defending champions kick off their title defence on January 15 against Gambia, followed by a clash with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on the 18th, and concluding their group campaign against Guinea on January 23.
The Lions of Teranga, led by the charismatic Koulibaly, are poised to face the lion’s share of challenges, aiming to etch their name in history once again.
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