Senegal Relieves Head Coach Pape Thiaw of Duties After World Cup Exit
The Senegal Football Federation has announced the dismissal of head coach Pape Thiaw following the national team’s disappointing outing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The decision comes after the Teranga Lions fell short of expectations despite entering the tournament with strong momentum, having recently secured the Africa Cup of Nations title earlier in the year.
Senegal’s campaign began on a difficult note, with losses in their opening group-stage matches. Although they progressed to the knockout round, their journey ended dramatically after conceding a two-goal advantage and losing in extra time, resulting in their elimination from the competition.
The federation cited the need for a new technical direction in response to the team’s overall performance at the global tournament.
Thiaw, 45, is also expected to serve a suspension later in the year following a disciplinary issue linked to events during the continental championship.
Meanwhile, former France international Patrick Vieira has emerged as a leading contender to take over the coaching role. The federation is expected to provide further clarification on the appointment of a new head coach in the coming days.
