Anger in Senegal... federation president holds Pape Thiaw responsible for the early exit
Senegal's federation president has broken his silence following the team's early exit from the 2026 World Cup, launching sharp criticism at coach Pape Thiaw.
The president of the Senegalese Football Federation has broken his silence to respond to the wave of criticism directed at the national team following its early elimination from the 2026 World Cup, launching sharp criticism at coach Pape Thiaw, whom he holds largely responsible for the team's disappointing display.
Senegal exited the tournament in the round of 32 after a 3-2 defeat to Belgium, following an inconsistent group-stage campaign that included defeats to France (1-3) and Norway (2-3), offset by a heavy 5-0 win over Iraq.
"I won't hide my anger. We put every resource at the technical staff's disposal, and we did not expect an exit like this. There are clear tactical mistakes the coach must take responsibility for."
The federation president added that some starting-lineup and substitution decisions in certain matches "were not understandable," noting that the federation would launch a full review of the team's campaign once the tournament ends.
The comments come amid growing debate over Pape Thiaw's future in charge of Senegal, with speculation mounting over a possible change of coach ahead of upcoming fixtures.
