Senegal's football federation fired head coach Pape Thiaw on Saturday following a disappointing World Cup campaign. The federation said a change in leadership was needed after the Teranga Lions fell short of expectations at the tournament.
The West African side had arrived at the World Cup as Africa Cup of Nations champions, having beaten Morocco in the final earlier this year. But their campaign collapsed quickly in Qatar.
Senegal lost their first two group matches against France and Norway before crashing out in the knockout stage. In the Round of 32, Thiaw's team surrendered a 2-0 lead against Belgium, conceding twice in the final five minutes of normal time.
Belgium scored again in extra time to complete the turnaround and eliminate Senegal from the tournament. The dramatic exit sealed Thiaw's fate at the federation.
The 45-year-old coach was also facing a five-match ban starting in September after being sanctioned for walking his players off the pitch during the Africa Cup of Nations final. He'd protested a penalty decision awarded to Morocco that day.
Patrick Vieira, the former France international, has emerged as the leading candidate to succeed Thiaw. Vieira was born in Dakar before establishing himself as a midfielder for France at international level.
The Senegal Football Federation will hold a press conference on Monday to announce further details about the coaching vacancy. Officials are expected to provide updates on the recruitment process and next steps for the national team.
