Pape Gueye snubs coach Pape Thiaw after Senegal's World Cup elimination, threatens national team withdrawal
via SeneNews6 min read
Following Senegal's 3-2 elimination by Belgium in the World Cup round of sixteen, midfielder Pape Gueye reportedly snubbed coach Pape Thiaw on the field. After the match, Gueye walked past Thiaw without acknowledgment, a moment captured by fans. This incident follows a social media post by Gueye, where he stated he would take a break from the national team as long as the current technical staff remains in place. Journalist Mbaye Sène of DSports also reported a heated altercation between Gueye and two members of the Senegalese Football Federation FSF before the match, which almost escalated into a physical confrontation. These events highlight deep-seated tensions within the team, suggesting a significant crisis beyond the sporting defeat.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
Senegalese defender Moussa Niakhaté stated he was "devastated" following Senegal's elimination in the World Cup round of sixteen against Belgium, with a 3-2 score. He believes the Lions "gave everything" despite a cruel scenario where a two-goal lead was squandered at the end of the match. Senegal was eliminated after leading 2-0 with minutes remaining. Niakhaté declared, "We are devastated in the locker room because we gave everything," acknowledging that errors made at the end of the match cost the Lions qualification. He noted the team had high ambitions after their continental triumph and hoped for a significant run in the World Cup. "The group was 100% determined to have an exceptional run. But today, we were not up to par over the four matches of this World Cup," he admitted. However, the player considered the performance against Belgium to be his team's best since the start of the tournament. "Today, we showed a very good image compared to the other matches. That's what allowed us to lead 2-0 against a very good Belgian team. But then, we conceded three goals," he regretted. Addressing Senegalese supporters, Moussa Niakhaté highlighted the pain felt by the players after this elimination. "We cannot imagine the Senegalese in Dakar, in Senegal, and around the world. I think we made them proud in recent months, but today, in all honesty, we disappointed them," he confided. "We are truly disappointed, just like them, and we would have wanted to do much better. The disappoi
Rudi Garcia's statements following Belgium's 3-2 victory over Senegal in the 2026 World Cup round of sixteen have drawn criticism. The Belgian coach had commented on Senegal's management of the end of the match, suggesting they made a "serious error" by trying to protect their 2-0 lead. French consultant Pierre Ménès reacted to these remarks on social media. While expressing his appreciation for Garcia, Ménès deemed the Belgian coach's comments "inappropriate" and "as misplaced as it is stupid." Ménès believes Belgium's qualification, achieved after overcoming a two-goal deficit and a penalty in extra time, does not justify such criticism of the Senegalese team. He concluded that Garcia "would have done better to light a candle at church for the Belgian miracle," referencing the match scenario where Belgium overturned a 2-0 deficit against Senegal.
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