Senegal Coach Rift
Senegal's Pape Gueye Halts National Team Duty Due to Coach Pape Thiaw
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Key Points
1
Gueye was withdrawn in the 67th minute for Lamine Camara during Senegal’s Round of 32 defeat to Belgium, indicating a late tactical reshuffle by the coaching staff.
2
Gueye had been Senegal’s standout in the tournament, contributing three goals and an assist and earning Player of the Match honors against Iraq in the 5-0 group-stage win.
3
Post-match reports described the Senegal camp as tense, with the dressing room described as toxic and mounting internal divisions among senior players after the defeat.
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The World Cup exit came amid ongoing controversy from this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, including a title-stripping episode and a disputed VAR penalty, providing broader context to the team’s turmoil.
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Gueye published an Instagram message saying he would not play for Senegal while the current coaching staff remained in charge, effectively tying his return to leadership changes behind the bench.
Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye announced he will not play for the national team while the current coaching staff remains in charge, just hours after a crushing 3-2 extra-time loss to Belgium at the FIFA World Cup 2026. AP News reported that Gueye posted his ultimatum on Instagram, writing: "As long as it's this technical staff I'll take a break from the selection."
The defeat was stunning. Senegal led 2-0 with five minutes left in regulation before Belgium scored twice to force extra time. Youri Tielemans then converted a VAR-awarded penalty at the 124th minute and 44 seconds — the latest goal ever recorded in World Cup history — to send Senegal home, AP News reported.
Gueye Substitution Sparks Furious Dressing Room Reaction
Gueye, 27, had been Senegal's best player all tournament. He scored three goals and added one assist, earning Player of the Match in Senegal's 5-0 group-stage win over Iraq. Then, with Senegal leading 2-0, head coach Pape Thiaw pulled him off in the 67th minute for Lamine Camara. Belgium scored twice in the final four minutes of regulation to level at 2-2.
The decision was seen as a turning point. Senior players openly questioned the substitution, according to Winnipeg Free Press, which described the Senegal locker room after the match as "toxic." Reports suggest internal divisions among senior players had been building for months before the defeat in Seattle.
Camara Foul Gifts Belgium a Last-Second Penalty to Win
The cruelest blow came in the 125th minute. Lamine Camara — the same player who replaced Gueye — fouled Tielemans inside the box. A VAR review confirmed the penalty. Tielemans stepped up and converted, finishing a comeback that began with Romelu Lukaku's goal in the 86th minute and Tielemans' equalizer just three minutes later.
Despite the exit, Senegal made history. The team became the first African nation to score 10 goals in a single World Cup edition, AP News reported. They also scored five goals in one match against Iraq, the most ever by an African side in a single World Cup game. The record haul did nothing to soften the blow of the collapse.
AFCON Title Stripped Months Earlier Poisoned the Well
The World Cup fallout does not exist in a vacuum. Earlier in 2026, Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations, beating Morocco 1-0 in extra time — with Gueye scoring the winner. But the squad walked off the pitch during the match to protest a penalty call. The CAF Appeal Board later stripped Senegal of the title and handed Morocco a 3-0 default win, citing violations of competition rules.
Coach Thiaw received a five-game ban from CAF for his role in the walk-off, AP News reported. The Senegalese Football Federation called the ruling "unfair and unacceptable" and filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. That ongoing legal battle, combined with reports of players being treated poorly at the tournament, fed a "siege mentality" that eventually turned inward against the coaching staff.
Coaching Overhaul Now Looks Inevitable for Senegal
Gueye's public statement puts the Senegalese Football Federation in a tight spot. At 27 and coming off a three-goal World Cup, he is the team's most in-form player. Keeping him out while retaining Thiaw is a hard sell to fans. Social media campaigns using the hashtag #ThiawOut have grown since the defeat, according to reports from the Seattle camp.
There are also fears that other senior players could follow Gueye's lead, Yahoo Sports reported. A wider boycott could cripple Senegal ahead of future qualifying campaigns. The FSF's official response to Gueye's Instagram statement, along with the pending CAS ruling on the AFCON title, will likely determine whether the Lions of Teranga can rebuild — or fracture further.
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