Senegal have dismissed head coach Pape Thiaw following the national team’s disappointing 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) announced after an executive committee meeting.
The decision comes less than two weeks after Senegal’s dramatic 3-2 extra-time defeat to Belgium in the Round of 32, a match in which the Lions of Teranga surrendered a two-goal lead after taking control early in the contest.
The federation said it had decided to part ways with Thiaw after conducting a “thorough evaluation of the sporting results and prospects” of the men’s national team, adding that changes were necessary as part of a broader restructuring of the country’s national football programme.
Expectations had been high after Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year under Thiaw, but the World Cup campaign fell short. The team lost its opening two group matches to France and Norway before beating Iraq 5-0 to reach the knockout stage, where Belgium mounted a late comeback to end Senegal’s tournament.
Thiaw, 45, had taken charge of the senior national team in late 2024 after succeeding Aliou Cissé. During his tenure, he guided Senegal to qualification for the World Cup and added the AFCON title to his achievements, having previously led the country’s home-based side to the African Nations Championship (CHAN) crown.
His position had also been complicated by disciplinary issues following the AFCON final, where he led his players off the pitch in protest over a refereeing decision before they later returned to complete the match. The Confederation of African Football subsequently handed him a five-match suspension, due to begin during the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
The FSF is expected to outline its plans for appointing a successor at a press conference. French media have reported that former France international Patrick Vieira, who was born in Dakar, is among the leading candidates to replace Thiaw, although no appointment has been confirmed.
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