Senegal have dismissed head coach Pape Thiaw after the Teranga Lions’ disappointing campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to an early end.
The decision was confirmed by the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), which announced that it had begun the process of terminating the contracts of Thiaw and his technical staff following a review of the national team’s performances at the tournament.
Senegal’s World Cup journey ended in the Round of 32 with a dramatic defeat to Belgium. The West Africans looked on course for a place in the last 16 after establishing a two-goal lead, only for Belgium to mount a late comeback. Two goals in the closing stages forced extra time before Youri Tielemans converted the decisive penalty to complete a remarkable 3-2 turnaround.
The knockout defeat capped a difficult tournament for Senegal, who struggled during the group stage. Consecutive losses to France and Norway left their qualification hopes hanging by a thread before an emphatic 5-0 victory over Iran secured progression as the lowest-ranked of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.
Despite escaping the group, the federation concluded that the team’s overall performances did not meet expectations. In a statement, the FSF said its executive committee reached the decision after assessing both the results achieved at the World Cup and the long-term direction of the national team.
Thiaw departs after overseeing a campaign that promised moments of resilience but ultimately ended in disappointment. Senegal’s inability to protect a two-goal advantage against Belgium proved to be the defining moment of the tournament and intensified scrutiny of the team’s tactical approach and game management.
The federation is now expected to begin the search for a new head coach as preparations turn towards the next international cycle, with the aim of restoring Senegal’s status as one of Africa’s leading football nations.
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