Patrick Vieira in Line to Replace Aliou Cissé as Senegal Coach

The Senegal Football Federation is contemplating changes to the national team's coaching staff following their exit in the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup, losing to Belgium 3-2 after extra time, amid growing doubts about Aliou Cissé's future.

According to French newspaper L'Équipe, the Senegalese federation will hold an emergency executive committee meeting in Dakar to review the "Lions of Teranga" performance in the World Cup, with Cissé's future being a key topic of discussion, despite his previous assertion that he renewed his contract during the tournament.

The report added that several officials within the federation prefer to hire Frenchman Patrick Vieira to lead the team moving forward. Vieira has been available since leaving Genoa in November 2025, and he was born in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, where he also helped establish the "Diambars" academy, one of the country's leading player development centers.

The newspaper believes that Vieira's connection to Senegal, along with his coaching experience, makes him a top candidate to succeed Cissé at a time when Senegalese football seeks to regain stability and rebuild the national team after the World Cup disappointment.