Senegal fires coach Pape Thiaw after World Cup round-of-32 collapse against Belgium
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) ended Pape Thiaw's tenure after a 3-2 extra-time defeat to Belgium in the World Cup round of 32, where Senegal squandered a 2-0 lead with four minutes of normal time remaining. President Abdoulaye Fall will explain the decision at a Monday press conference.
The collapse in Seattle
Senegal's 2026 World Cup ended in dramatic fashion at Lumen Field in Seattle. Facing Belgium in the round of 32, the Lions of Teranga held a comfortable 2-0 lead until the 86th minute. The Diables then scored twice in rapid succession to force extra time, where they completed a 3-2 comeback win. The result mirrored the team's broader tournament struggles, marked by an inability to close out matches.
A disappointing campaign
Thiaw's side failed to impress during the group stage as well. Senegal fell 3-1 to France in their opener, then lost 3-2 to Norway before beating Iraq 5-0 in a must-win finale. That sole victory secured a narrow passage to the knockout rounds, but the team never found consistency. The elimination means Senegal exit the 2026 World Cup with three defeats across four matches, a return that fell well short of their pre-tournament ambitions.
- Lost 3-1
- Lost 3-2
- Won 5-0
- Led 2-0 until 86th minute, lost 3-2 after extra time
Federation moves swiftly
The FSF executive committee convened an emergency meeting throughout Saturday 11 July, deliberating late into the night. At its conclusion, a spokesperson read a statement formalizing the break with Thiaw. The communique, while announcing the termination, mistakenly referred to the exit as having occurred in the round of 16, though later clarification confirmed the match was a round-of-32 fixture. President Abdoulaye Fall will hold a press conference on Monday to detail the motivations behind the sacking and outline the future direction of the national team.
it has been decided to initiate a procedure to terminate the contract of national coach Pape Thiaw, and the entire technical staff.
Player discontent
The on-field collapse prompted a sharp reaction from midfielder Pape Gueye. Immediately after the defeat, Gueye posted a message on his Instagram account announcing he would pause his international career so long as the same technical staff remained in charge. His words captured the dressing-room frustration with how the tournament unfolded and the coaching setup.
I am putting my international career on hold as long as it's this technical staff.
What comes next
Thiaw, aged 45, had led Senegal since late 2024 and oversaw a strong run that included a Confederation of African Football (CAF) Africa Cup of Nations title on the pitch earlier in 2026, though Morocco was later awarded the trophy on a technicality. That success makes his dismissal a jarring reversal. Monday's press conference should shed light on whether the federation plans to hire a foreign coach or promote from within, as well as how it intends to address the structural issues that plagued the team throughout the tournament.
