Pape Thiaw demands $747,000 from Senegal FA over unpaid salaries, bonuses

Former Senegal head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw has issued an eight-day ultimatum to the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), demanding approximately $747,000 in unpaid salaries, bonuses and expenses.

Thiaw’s lawyers formally served the federation with the legal notice on August 13 through bailiff Fatma Haris Diop, according to Senegalese media reports and a copy of the document circulated by sports outlet Taggat.

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The demand follows the breakdown of Thiaw’s relationship with the FSF and the federation’s decision to begin the process of terminating his contract and that of his technical staff on July 11.

Dispute over three-year contract

According to the legal notice, Thiaw signed a 36-month contract running from March 1, 2026, to February 28, 2029, with a monthly net salary of approximately $52,000.

His lawyers claim he received no salary between March and August, resulting in about $317,000 in unpaid wages.

The claim also includes approximately $158,000 in outstanding signing bonuses and another $52,000 special contractual bonus.

Thiaw is further seeking about $20,800 in housing allowances, $1,850 for fuel and $18,500 in expenses he allegedly paid personally.

His representatives said invoices covering some of those expenses were submitted to the FSF in May but remain unpaid.

Bonuses add to $747,000 claim

The former Senegal coach is also demanding approximately $176,000 in bonuses linked to the country’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign and qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Together, the various claims amount to approximately $747,000.

The financial dispute adds to the tension surrounding Thiaw’s departure.

FSF President Abdoulaye Fall said in July that trust had broken down between the coach and federation following disagreements over his salary and a new contract.

Reports in Senegal also indicated that the Sports Ministry informed the FSF that the state had not formally approved the three-year agreement, despite reportedly being designated as the third-party payer.

That position could leave the federation responsible for the financial obligations arising from the disputed contract.

Eight-day deadline

Thiaw’s lawyers, from SCP Maître Guédel Ndiaye et Associés, have given the FSF eight days to resolve the dispute amicably.

Failure to settle the claim within the deadline could trigger judicial proceedings, with applicable legal interest potentially added to the amount owed.

Thiaw’s departure came after Senegal’s disappointing 2026 World Cup campaign, which ended with a 3-2 extra-time defeat to Belgium in the round of 32, despite the Teranga Lions taking a 2-0 lead.