Senegal Football Federation has dismissed national team head coach Pape Thiaw following Senegal’s elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the Round of 32.
Thiaw, who took charge of the Teranga Lions in December 2024, was relieved of his duties after the team’s disappointing campaign at the tournament.
Senegal began their Group I campaign with defeats to France and Norway before bouncing back with a 5-0 victory over Iran. The win was enough to see them progress to the knockout stage as the lowest-ranked of the best third-placed teams.
However, their World Cup journey ended in dramatic fashion against Belgium in Seattle. Senegal led 2-0 with five minutes remaining in regulation time but conceded twice to force extra time before eventually losing 3-2 after Youri Tielemans converted a late penalty.
Announcing the decision, the Senegal Football Federation said its Executive Committee resolved to begin the process of terminating Thiaw’s appointment, along with that of his entire technical staff, following a review meeting held on Saturday, July 11.
The federation said the decision followed a comprehensive assessment of the national team’s performance and future prospects.
In a statement, the federation said the move was taken “in the best interests of Senegalese football” after evaluating the team’s sporting results and determining that a change in leadership was necessary.
Thiaw’s departure brings an end to his tenure less than two years after he was appointed head coach, with the federation now expected to begin the search for a new manager ahead of Senegal’s upcoming international fixtures.