Senegal: after the dismissal of Pape Thiaw, the race to succeed him is on

A record far from catastrophic

On paper, Pape Thiaw’s record is far from shameful: in nearly two years at the helm of the team, he posted 20 wins, 4 draws and 5 losses in 29 matches and won the AFCON against Morocco last January. He had also led Senegal to qualification for this 2026 World Cup as early as October 2025.

But the campaign in America turned into a fiasco: defeats against France (3-1) and Norway (3-2) in the group stage, qualification snatched thanks to a big win over Iraq (5-0), then elimination—now described as “incomprehensible” by the Senegalese press—against the Belgians. All of this against a backdrop of internal tensions: Thiaw arrived at the World Cup without a renewed contract and several months of unpaid salary, a situation he publicly denounced a few days before the competition.

The president of the FSF, Abdoulaye Fall, is set to hold a press conference this Monday to detail the reasons behind the dismissal.

Three profiles, three different approaches

No successor has yet been made official, but both the Senegalese and French press are repeatedly mentioning three names.

Patrick Vieira is the name getting the most attention, especially relayed by L’Équipe. Born in Dakar, the former captain of Les Bleus co-created the Diambars academy, which has trained several Senegalese internationals, including Idrissa Gana Gueye. But his coaching career (New York City, Nice, Crystal Palace, Strasbourg, Genoa) has been irregular, and he has been without a club since leaving Genoa in November 2025. He has also never managed a national team, making him more of a gamble than a clear favorite in the eyes of many observers.

Hervé Renard embodies safety: extensive experience with African football and national teams. His profile is considered solid, but his cost might pose a budgetary problem for a Federation already weakened by the chaotic financial management during the Thiaw era.

Habib Beye, only recently dismissed from OM, is arguably the name that sparks the most popular enthusiasm. A former Lions captain, he represents a generation of modern coaches, knows the Senegalese locker room inside out, and enjoys strong popularity among supporters.

A fourth name is also being strongly mentioned in recent hours: that of Omar Daf, presented by some Senegalese media as the frontrunner, mainly for financial reasons compared to the demands of a Renard.

A project bigger than just picking a coach

Several voices, including that of goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, remind us that Senegal’s struggles at this World Cup went beyond just the matter of the manager: contract disputes, bonuses, internal tensions, and organizational problems marked this campaign. Changing the coach alone probably won’t be enough to restart a momentum the Federation now wants to rebuild across the board.

The decision should be known in the coming weeks.