​Like this article? Help keep independent journalism thriving by supporting HuffPost. Senegal has terminated the contract of head coach Pape Thiaw following the national team’s exit from the 2026 World Cup. The Senegalese Football Federation announced on Sunday that it had parted ways with the 45-year-old coach, who had been in charge since 2024. “It was decided to initiate a procedure to terminate the functions of the national coach, Mr. Pape Thiaw, as well as his entire technical staff,” the federation said in a news release. “After a thorough evaluation of the sporting results and prospects of the national team, the Executive Committee deemed it necessary to initiate this procedure in the best interests of Senegalese football.”
In Seattle on July 1, Senegal fell to Belgium 3-2 in the round of 32, a result the federation labeled a failure. Thiaw’s squad led 2-0 in the 86th minute, only to concede two late goals and a penalty in extra time to be eliminated. In Group I play, Senegal defeated Iraq but lost to Norway and France. They advanced to the knockout stage as one of the eight third-place finishers, buoyed by a five-goal victory over Iraq.
The World Cup has seen a substantial turnover in coaching roles, with more than a quarter of head coaches being fired or resigning after their teams were eliminated. In addition to Senegal, coaches from Croatia, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, Germany, Ghana, Mexico, the Netherlands, Portugal, South Korea, Tunisia, Scotland, and Uruguay have also left their positions. More departures could follow as nations reassess their campaigns. Read the original on HuffPost for broader context and analysis.