Senegal have sacked head coach Pape Thiaw after a dressing-room revolt led by midfielder Pape Gueye, who threatened to boycott the national team unless a managerial change was made. The decision comes days after Sadio Mane announced his retirement from international football.
World Cup collapse triggers fallout
Thiaw, 45, was dismissed after a thorough evaluation by the Senegalese Football Federation following the team's round-of-32 exit at the 2026 World Cup. Senegal led Belgium 2-0 before conceding two goals in three minutes to Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans, eventually losing 3-2 in extra time. The defeat marked a dramatic collapse for the Africa Cup of Nations finalists.
According to ESPN, the team suffered from administrative dysfunction, dressing-room unrest, public criticism, and tactical errors during the tournament. Thiaw had been in charge for two years, having taken over from Aliou Cisse in October 2024.
Gueye's ultimatum
Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye, who scored twice in Senegal's group-stage win over Iraq, posted a cryptic message on social media after the elimination. He said: "I'll be back to give you a few words regarding elimination... but I announce today that as long as it's this technical staff I'll take a break from the selection." The threat of a boycott appears to have accelerated the federation's decision.
The federation stated that they conducted a "thorough evaluation" of the situation and took action in the best interests of Senegalese football. They will hold a press conference to explain the reasons for the dismissal and outline future plans.
New era for Senegal
With Thiaw gone, Senegal will now reset and prepare for next year's Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The departure also marks the end of an era after Sadio Mane retired from international duty. Mane said: "Know that I sacrificed everything for this flag. I gave the very best of myself and I always fought fiercely for our homeland. Your constant support has been the engine of my success. 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."
The federation has not yet named a replacement for Thiaw, but the focus is now on rebuilding the squad and restoring harmony ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.
