Vieira refuses to take office in Senegal before contract is signed

Patrick Vieira has not yet officially taken up his position as Senegal head coach, nearly three weeks after his appointment on August 18. The former French international has given a preliminary agreement to the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), but demands that his contract be signed before any public appearance.

According to Bakary Cissé, a member of the FSF executive committee, negotiations are continuing behind the scenes to finalize the last details of the 50-year-old coach’s engagement. According to La Voix+, Vieira does not wish to repeat the situation experienced by his predecessor, Pape Thiaw.

The former Senegal head coach had indeed continued to exercise his duties for several months without a contract or salary after his engagement expired at the end of February. This precarity had led to repeated tensions: before the preparation camp for the 2026 World Cup, Pape Thiaw had first refused to travel, before reversing his decision after intervention by the head of state. During the competition itself, he threatened again not to manage the decisive match against Norway, finally obtaining an extension just hours before kick-off. Senegal lost 3-2 on June 23.

Fired on July 11, Pape Thiaw has since sent a formal notice to the FSF demanding €647,000 in unpaid wages. According to SeneNews, he is preparing a new claim for approximately €600,000 additional, which would bring the total bill to over one million euros.

This tense financial and institutional context sheds light on Vieira’s caution. By refusing to take the bench before the definitive signing of his contract, the 1998 World Cup winner intends to secure his position before even directing his first training session.