Renard Emerges as Favorite for Senegal’s Coaching Spot

Casablanca – The Senegalese Football Federation is reportedly working behind the scenes to find the ideal successor for Pape Thiaw after sacking the Lions of Teranga coach for a disappointing World Cup campaign. 

Converging reports indicate that Herve Renard’s name is being mentioned frequently among the highly qualified candidates attracting the attention of FSF officials. The French coach, available after his brief spell in charge of Tunisia during the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, is said to be among the leading candidates on the shortlist drawn up by Senegalese authorities.

“This campaign has been a failure in relation to the objectives and the talent of our team,”  FSF Secretary General Abdoulaye Seydou Sow said on public television while discussing Senegal’s World Cup run. The  search for Pape Thiaw’s successor is now actively underway as Senegal races to close the embarrassing chapter of the Teranga Lions’ last-minute tactical collapse against Belgium in the round of 32. 

The federation’s reported choice of Renard to clean up Thiaw’s mess is no accident, given the man’s exceptional experience in major international tournaments. 

In addition to his two memorable Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) titles with Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015, the 57-year-old glowing managerial record includes  taking charge of three different national teams at the World Cup, namely Morocco in 2018, Saudi Arabia in 2022, and Tunisia in 2026.

Although nothing is officially finalized, talks could gather pace in the coming days. As the Senegalese public eagerly awaits news of their next head coach, Renard’s arrival would represent a major statement of intent from Senegal. 

In particular, it would be a departure from a recent culture of appointing local coaches, a large part of whose legitimacy comes from their years as former players and leading members of the Teranga Lions.