The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has revealed that a breakdown in trust between head coach Pape Thiaw and the federation, triggered by a contract and salary dispute, contributed to his dismissal following the country’s disappointing FIFA World Cup campaign. Speaking at a press conference in Dakar on Monday, FSF President Abdoulaye Fall said tensions escalated after Thiaw demanded a pay increase during negotiations over a new contract, creating what he described as a “toxic atmosphere” around the national team before and during the tournament. According to Fall, Thiaw even threatened to boycott the team’s trip to the World Cup in the United States unless his contractual demands were met. The federation chief disclosed that Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye personally intervened on the day of the team’s departure, persuading the coach to travel with the squad.
Thiaw, 45, was dismissed on Sunday after Senegal’s World Cup campaign ended in the Round of 32 with a dramatic defeat to Belgium on July 1. The Teranga Lions squandered a 2-0 lead in the closing minutes before being eliminated, capping a difficult tournament in which they had also suffered group-stage defeats to France and Norway. Appointed as Senegal’s head coach in 2024, Thiaw guided the team to what was initially celebrated as the Africa Cup of Nations title earlier this year in Morocco. However, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) later overturned the result following a dispute. The Senegalese Football Federation has since appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The federation has not yet announced a replacement for Thiaw as preparations begin for upcoming international competitions.
