Senegal sack Thiaw after Pape Gueye's boycott threat following World Cup collapse against Belgium

Pape Thiaw has been sacked as Senegal head coach after the team’s 2026 World Cup elimination, with the Football Federation confirming his dismissal following a “thorough evaluation” of a situation marked by dressing room unrest, public player dissent, and a dramatic collapse against Belgium.

Senegal had led by two goals before Belgium mounted a late comeback, with Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans scoring twice in three minutes to turn the tie on its head before the Red Devils completed the turnaround in extra time. The round-of-32 exit brought simmering tensions to the surface and effectively ended Thiaw’s two-year tenure.

The catalyst for the dismissal was an extraordinary public statement from Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye, who had scored twice in Senegal’s group-stage win over Iraq. Gueye posted a pointed message warning he would step away from international duty if the technical staff remained in place. “I’ll be back to give you a few words regarding elimination,” he wrote, “but I announce today that as long as it’s this technical staff I’ll take a break from the selection.”

ESPN reported that the problems ran deeper than the Belgium defeat, citing administrative dysfunction, tactical errors, and widespread dressing room discontent throughout the campaign. Thiaw had stepped into the role as assistant to his predecessor Aliou Cissé, who departed in October 2024 after a tenure that had taken Senegal to the pinnacle of African football.

In their official statement, the Senegalese Football Federation said they would hold a press conference to present the reasons for the decision and outline plans for the future, reiterating that the move was made in the best interests of Senegalese football.

With Thiaw’s exit, Senegal now face a significant rebuild ahead of next year’s Africa Cup of Nations, to be held across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The transition is compounded by the retirement of Liverpool icon Sadio Mané from international football, who announced his decision in an emotional statement.

“Know that I sacrificed everything for this flag,” Mané said. “I gave the very best of myself and I always fought fiercely for our homeland. Tomorrow, I will gladly put my experience at the service of the nation, whether within a technical staff, on the sidelines as a coach, or in the governing bodies.”