​The axe has fallen on Pape Thiaw. In a statement issued at 4 a.m., the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) announced that it had “decided to initiate proceedings to terminate Pape Thiaw’s duties.” The decision came after a meeting of the FSF’s Executive Committee, marking the end of Thiaw’s tenure as head coach of the Lions of Teranga. Thiaw, who had been crowned African champion a mere 175 days earlier—before CAF stripped him of that title—pays the price for Senegal’s disappointing World Cup campaign. The three defeats suffered in the tournament, the early exit in the round of 16, and the painful comeback they allowed against Belgium (2-3) accelerated his departure.
Thiaw’s evident shortcomings in closing out matches also damaged his standing with the federation’s leadership and with a portion of the Senegalese fanbase. Several sources, including L’Équipe, point to Patrick Vieira—born in Dakar—and Habib Beye, a former Senegal international, as the front-runners to succeed him ahead of the upcoming qualifiers and the final stretch of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations cycle.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in French here. for better SEO.