The Senegal Football Federation (FSF) has announced the dismissal of head coach Pape Thiaw after the Teranga Lions’ early exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The decision follows Senegal’s heartbreaking Round of 32 defeat to Belgium, where they squandered a two-goal lead.
Thiaw’s men were cruising at 2-0 before Belgium mounted a dramatic comeback, scoring twice in the closing stages of normal time before sealing a 3-2 victory in extra time.
Appointed in December 2024, Thiaw oversaw a mixed World Cup campaign.
Senegal opened the tournament with back-to-back defeats to France and Norway, leaving their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
The Teranga Lions responded emphatically with a 5-0 victory over Iraq in their final group match, advancing to the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams. However, their inability to hold onto their advantage against Belgium brought their campaign to an abrupt end.
In a statement, the FSF said the decision to relieve Thiaw of his duties came after a comprehensive review of the team’s recent performances and future ambitions, stressing that the move was made in the best interest of Senegalese football.
Thiaw’s exit also comes amid reported dissatisfaction within the national team setup.
Midfielder Pape Gueye recently announced he was suspending his international career until changes were made to the coaching structure following Senegal’s World Cup elimination.
The former coach’s reign was further marked by the controversy surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
During the showpiece against Morocco, Thiaw instructed his players to leave the field after a stoppage-time penalty was awarded to the hosts.
Although Senegal later returned to complete the match and secured victory after extra time when Morocco missed the penalty, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) subsequently overturned the result.
CAF awarded the title to Morocco, ruling against Senegal over the walk-off incident.
Senegal have since appealed the verdict to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with the case still pending.
The FSF is now expected to begin the search for a new head coach as the West African giants prepare for their next international assignments.
