The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has pointed to internal instability and a fractured relationship with head coach Pape Thiaw as the primary reasons for the national team’s disappointing exit from the World Cup.
The fallout comes just days after Senegal’s elimination in the Round of 32, a heartbreaking loss against Belgium on July 1. On Sunday, the FSF officially terminated Thiaw’s contract, citing an irreparable breach of trust. FSF President Abdoulaye Fall, speaking at a press conference in Dakar, revealed that the friction originated from a salary dispute that stalled contract negotiations.
The situation nearly derailed the team’s campaign before it began. Fall claimed that Thiaw had threatened to boycott the tournament over his financial demands. The crisis was averted only by the direct intervention of Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who reportedly persuaded the coach to travel with the team on the day of their scheduled departure to the United States.
Thiaw’s departure marks a swift end to a tenure that had once been promising. Appointed in 2024, he guided the squad to a continental title in Morocco, a victory that was later revoked by the Confederation of African Football—a ruling currently under appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Ultimately, Senegal’s World Cup dreams evaporated in a dramatic collapse against Belgium. Despite holding a 2-0 lead with only five minutes remaining, the team surrendered the advantage, ending a tournament run that had already been marred by narrow escapes following losses to France and Norway during the group stages.
