The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) announced on Sunday that Pape Thiaw has been dismissed from his role as head coach following the national team’s exit in the round of 32 at the World Cup.
In an official statement, the FSF revealed that after deliberations by its executive committee, the decision was made to relieve Thiaw and his entire coaching staff of their duties. The federation also confirmed that FSF president Abdoulaye Fall will address the media on Monday to clarify the reasons behind the dismissal and outline the future direction for the team.
Thiaw, aged 45 and a former player for Senegal, had assumed the position of national team coach earlier in 2024. His tenure saw mixed results, beginning with a challenging group stage at the World Cup. Senegal suffered defeats to France and Norway before securing a decisive 5-0 win against Iraq, which allowed them to progress to the knockout phase.
Disappointing World Cup Performance and Prior Controversies
Despite taking a 2-0 lead against Belgium in the round of 32, Senegal ultimately lost 3-2 in extra time, ending their World Cup journey prematurely. This outcome, coupled with the team’s overall performance in the tournament, contributed to the federation’s decision to part ways with Thiaw.
Earlier in the year, under Thiaw’s leadership, Senegal had won the Africa Cup of Nations final in January. However, the team was subsequently stripped of the title as a consequence of walking off the pitch during a tumultuous final against Morocco. This incident added further complexity to Thiaw’s coaching period.