Senegal: why the appointment of Patrick Vieira as coach is still on hold

While Senegal will launch its campaign for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers on September 25 in Mozambique, uncertainty remains regarding the management of the Lions and the technical staff. Officially announced as the choice of the Senegalese Football Federation to succeed Pape Thiaw, Patrick Vieira has not yet been officially presented. The former French international, born in Dakar, still has not signed his contract, although he has reached an agreement in principle with the Senegalese Football Federation.

Vieira and Thiaw cases: silence from the ministry

The Federation still needs to have this choice validated by the Ministry of Sports. But the supervisory body has not yet given the green light for this recruitment. Similarly, it has not yet approved the departure of Pape Thiaw, even though the FSF announced it had started dismissal proceedings after the 2026 World Cup.

According to information from Sport News Africa, Thiaw, currently in Rwanda for the SportBiz Africa Forum, has still not received official notification of his dismissal. Yet, this letter serves as the legal basis for formalizing the end of the collaboration between the two parties and for calculating the amount of compensation owed to the coach.

First contacts between FSF and Thiaw's lawyers

A lawyer appointed by the FSF has approached Pape Thiaw's representatives in an attempt to initiate steps regarding the compensation owed, but lacks the crucial document. “Without this official notification, which is required by law, Pape Thiaw technically remains the coach of Senegal,” says one of the representatives of the CHAN winner. “The federation needs to notify him of his dismissal so that the process can be initiated, knowing that they owe him back pay from the previous contract and damages from unpaid wages, in addition to the clauses of the contract signed during the World Cup.”

If Thiaw does not receive compensation, his representatives will then appeal to the CAS or FIFA's dispute resolution chamber to assert their client's rights.

Vieira, official announcement expected soon

This is a situation that has been slow to resolve and could explain the delay in Patrick Vieira taking up his duties. His signing and presentation are expected in the coming week*, while the first assignments are already looming: two trips to Mozambique and then Ethiopia, followed by a friendly match in Marseille against Comoros.

It remains to be seen whether he will have had time to make initial contact with players and especially to assemble his own technical staff, or if he will have to work with a staff put in place by the federation. Just as many questions are added to the main one: if Vieira has not yet signed his contract, who, then, sent the pre-calls and put together the upcoming squad list?

*Contacted, Vieira's agent ultimately did not provide any information regarding his client's situation.