How Pape Thiaw lost the den: behind the scenes of an inevitable break-up

The end of Pape Thiaw’s tenure at the head of the Lions is not a direct consequence of Senegal’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup. The World Cup was merely the trigger for a crisis that had been brewing for several months.

According to our information, the point of no return occurred on May 27, 2026. Since that date, the national coach and the president of the Senegalese Football Federation, Abdoulaye Fall, had stopped speaking to each other. A silent rupture, but one with heavy consequences, at the top of the organization.

In reality, the first cracks appeared just after CAN 2025. As the training camps went on, misunderstandings grew between Pape Thiaw, several members of his staff, and key players of the national team. Disagreements over squad management, internal communication, and some of the coach’s decisions gradually installed a climate of mistrust.

The preparation for the American World Cup intensified the tensions. While FIFA had chosen the hotel for the Senegalese delegation, several players as well as staff members requested a change of establishment. Pape Thiaw firmly opposed this, refusing to allow any questions over the organizational choices. This refusal increased an already palpable unease within the group.

On the pitch, the results only amplified the crisis. Despite a qualification for the round of 16, the Lions never displayed the composure expected from an African contender. Tactical indecision, contested choices, individual errors, and a team lacking cohesion all fueled criticism. The elimination against Belgium finally brought down the last barriers.

Upon the delegation’s return, the FSF Executive Committee delivered an unequivocal assessment: the sporting results, added to a breakdown of trust between the coach, his superiors, and part of the dressing room, made any continuity impossible.

The unanimous vote calling for his departure therefore surprised only those unaware of what was happening behind the scenes. In reality, Pape Thiaw’s fate seemed already sealed well before the Lions’ last match. The World Cup was merely the final act of a separation that had become inevitable.