Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly has explained choosing Senegal over France.

Despite a childhood in France, the Chelsea centre-back has never forgotten his African origins, as shown by his decision to represent his parents' homeland Senegal in his own international career.

"It was a big, big choice, because I could have played with the French national team, but at 23 or 24 years old I decided to play for Senegal, because they were waiting for me.

"I spoke with the coach, he gave me good motivation and good reasons to come, and I also spoke with my family. The most important people were my parents – they told me that I have to do what I want, but when I told them that I wanted to play for the Senegal national team, I saw the light in their eyes and I knew it was a good choice.

"When I arrived and I saw the other players, it was like they were my family, because we were all used to eating the same things at home, to speaking the same language at home, so for me it was like I was home! I said to myself, 'Why didn't I come before? They are like my brothers '."