Senegal sack head coach Pape Thiaw after 2026 World Cup exit

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has officially parted ways with head coach Pape Thiaw. The decision follows the national team's disappointing round-of-32 exit from the 2026 World Cup.

In a formal statement, the FSF explained that after a thorough evaluation of the team's sporting results and future prospects, the Executive Committee deemed a coaching change necessary for the best interests of Senegalese football. Federation president Abdoulaye Fall is set to hold a press conference on Monday to discuss the reasons behind the dismissal and outline the future of the national team.

Thiaw’s tenure suffered a terminal blow during a dramatic round-of-32 clash against Belgium. Senegal held a commanding 2-0 lead until the 86th minute, only to suffer a catastrophic defensive collapse that saw them concede twice before losing the tie to a penalty in extra time.

The tournament was marked by inconsistency, with the West African side struggling through the group stage after defeats to France and Norway, only progressing thanks to a dominant win against Iraq. Thiaw’s time in charge was also marred by internal friction, including a controversial incident at the Africa Cup of Nations where he pulled his players off the pitch during a dispute over a penalty.

The instability reached a breaking point when midfielder Pape Gueye announced he would step away from international duty as long as the current management remained. This, combined with persistent speculation regarding Thiaw's contractual status, led the FSF to move in a different direction.