World Cup
Nasleep of World Cup forces Senegal to part with Pape Thiaw
Nasleep of the WK sees Senegal announce today through its official channels that head coach Pape Thiaw will step down after the team’s round‑of‑16 exit at the FIFA World Cup 2026, a decision that follows a 1‑0 defeat to België.
The Senegalese Football Federation convened on Saturday and resolved to dismiss the entire coaching staff, launching a formal search for a new manager.
In its statement, the federation said the move follows a thorough evaluation of the sporting results at the FIFA Wereldkampioenschap 2026 and the national team’s future prospects, deeming the procedure essential for Senegalese football.
Thiaw joins a list of recent national team coaches who have quit after World Cups, including Ronald Koeman, Julian Nagelsmann of Duitsland, Sebastián Beccacece of Ecuador, Steve Clarke of Schotland, Hong Myung‑bo of Zuid‑Korea, Marcelo Bielsa of Uruguay, Roberto Martínez of Portugal, Zlatko Dalic of Kroatië and Javier Aguirre of Mexico.
Last winter Senegal reached the Afrikaanse Cup final under Thiaw, initially beating Marokko before the victory was overturned after a penalty incident that resulted in a 3‑0 loss. The contrast between the World Cup disappointment and the disputed Afrikaanse Cup win highlights the challenges facing Senegalese football as it looks to appoint a new coach.