The Senegal Football Federation dismissed head coach Pape Thiaw on July 12 after the national team’s round-of-32 exit at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, falling to Belgium. It’s a decision that looks straightforward on the surface, but the dysfunction underneath tells a far more interesting story, one that extends well beyond the pitch.
Thiaw took charge on December 13, 2024, replacing the long-tenured Aliou Cissé. He actually won the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations title in January. Then he got fired six months later.
A tenure defined by chaos, not just results
During his time as head coach, Thiaw went five months without receiving his salary. His contract was irregularly signed just hours before a crucial World Cup qualifying match against Norway. An incident during the AFCON final resulted in a five-match ban from the Confederation of African Football and a $100,000 fine. Fan petitions calling for Thiaw’s removal had been circulating well before the World Cup exit gave the federation a clean excuse to act.
The fan token gap African football can’t ignore
