“I dream big. For me, Senegal are the best team in the world today.” Those words, spoken by Kalidou Koulibaly, now carry a bitter irony following Pape Thiaw‘s side’s elimination at the hands of Rudi Garcia‘s Belgium on Wednesday, July 1.
The Teranga Lions held a 2-0 lead at halftime against the Red Devils. But Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans had other plans for the Africa Cup of Nations finalists, who exited the tournament with three defeats and just one victory, earned against Iraq in their final group-stage match.
If the World Cup campaign of the so-called “best team in the world” ended in disappointment, the reasons lie not only on the pitch—where Pape Thiaw and his coaching staff have inevitably come under scrutiny—but also behind the scenes, where a series of internal problems appear to explain why Senegal’s North American adventure came to such an abrupt end.
Relations between Pape Thiaw and the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) had reportedly become increasingly strained. The head coach was still without a formal contract and had not received any salary. According to several sources, he had even considered refusing to take charge of the team at the World Cup until the situation was resolved.
Reports by a Senegalese journalist that players’ bonuses had gone unpaid added to the growing controversy. During the tournament, it also emerged that players, dissatisfied with the catering provided at their hotel, had reportedly been forced to order meals from outside.
Those issues alone would have been enough to destabilize a team already struggling after reaching the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. But fresh revelations surrounding the national team have painted an even darker picture.
According to French sports daily L’Équipe, the Teranga Lions were able to train at their designated stadium only once because the training facilities had not been paid for. The newspaper also reported that Pape Thiaw‘s contract had been renewed before being “torn up.”
An incompetent coaching staff?
If the problems began before the tournament, there are indications that Senegal remained poorly prepared even after the competition got underway. “We will gloss over the arrival of a second video analyst midway through the tournament or the absence of a scout at Norway’s first match just before Senegal faced them. Seeing federation officials parading around was also enough to irritate some players who had grown tired of the situation,” L’Équipe wrote.
The newspaper also pointed out what it described as chaotic squad management, highlighting in particular the pre-match press conference ahead of the Belgium game, attended by the head coach and Mamadou Sarr. “It was a real ordeal for the young defender, who never played a single minute during the tournament and leaves the United States deeply frustrated.”
While some of the difficulties may have been beyond anyone’s control, several Senegal players reportedly believe the coaching staff also bears responsibility. Following the defeat to Belgium, midfielder Pape Gueye wrote on social media: “I am announcing today that as long as this coaching staff remains in charge, I will take a break from the national team.”
The World Cup fell far short of Senegal’s expectations. More importantly, it exposed deep internal divisions within the national team, reinforcing the impression that this failure had been in the making long before the opening whistle.
