Senegal Parts Ways with Coach Pape Thiaw After World Cup Exit

The Senegalese Football Federation has announced the dismissal of coach Pape Bouna Thiaw after the national team was eliminated in the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup, stating that the team's performance in the tournament necessitated a change in the coaching staff.

Senegal entered the World Cup with high hopes after reaching the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco. However, their campaign was disappointing, losing their first two group stage matches against France and Norway, before exiting the competition with a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Belgium after extra time, despite leading 2-0 until the last five minutes of regular time.

Thiaw, 45, was also facing a five-match suspension starting in September for leading Senegalese players to withdraw in protest over a penalty awarded to Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final.

According to French newspaper L'Équipe, Patrick Vieira, a World Cup winner with France and born in the Senegalese capital Dakar, is among the leading candidates to take over as Senegal's coach, while the Senegalese Football Federation has called a press conference on Monday to reveal details about the next phase.