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The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has dismissed head coach Pape Thiaw following the Teranga Lions’ disappointing campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The decision comes after Senegal were eliminated in the round of 32, falling to Belgium after surrendering a two-goal lead late in regulation before losing in extra time.
In a statement, the FSF said the move followed a review of the team’s performances.
“After a thorough evaluation of the sporting results and prospects of the national team, the Executive Committee deemed it necessary to initiate this procedure in the best interests of Senegalese football.”
The federation added that president Abdoulaye Fall will address the media on Monday to explain the reasons behind the decision and outline the future direction of the national team.
Belgium collapse proves decisive
Thiaw’s fate was effectively sealed by Senegal’s dramatic defeat to Belgium in the knockout stage.
The African side looked set for a place in the last 16 after establishing a 2-0 advantage, only to concede twice in the closing minutes of normal time before eventually losing after extra time.
Senegal had already endured an inconsistent group-stage campaign. They suffered defeats to France and Norway before securing qualification as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams with a comprehensive victory over Iraq.
Controversies overshadow Thiaw’s tenure
Although Thiaw enjoyed moments of success, his spell in charge was also marked by several controversies.
One of the biggest came during the Africa Cup of Nations in January when he instructed his players to leave the pitch after Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty in the final.
The incident caused a 17-minute delay before play resumed, with Senegal initially believing they had won the title after Pape Gueye scored an extra-time winner.
However, Morocco were later awarded the championship by an appeals committee, triggering months of legal disputes.
The fallout extended into the national team, with midfielder Pape Gueye announcing after Senegal’s World Cup exit that he would step away from international football while the existing coaching setup remained in place.
Questions over Thiaw’s future had also surfaced before the World Cup after reports claimed he refused to travel to the United States for the team’s preparations because his contract had expired in February.
Although the FSF publicly denied the reports at the time, speculation over his position continued until his dismissal.