Senegal fires Thiaw after World Cup disappoinment
Senegal has fired coach Pape Bouna Thiaw, saying its results at the 2026 FIFA World Cup necessitated a change at the helm of the team.
Senegal had hoped to be a contender at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after beating Morocco in January’s Africa Cup of Nations final, but had a disappointing tournament in which it lost their opening two group games to France and Norway and let slip a 2-0 lead with five minutes remaining against Belgium in the Round of 32 before going down 3-2 in extra-time.
Thiaw, 45, was due to begin a five-match ban in September at the start of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers because he led a walk-off of players in protest at the penalty that Morocco was awarded in the final in Rabat.
French daily L’Equipe reported that Patrick Vieira, the France FIFA World Cup winner who was born in Dakar, was among the favourites to take over.
The Senegal federation has called a press conference for Monday.
