馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye steps away from national team, citing coaching staff
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye announced his decision to step away from the national team as long as head coach Pape Thiaw and the current technical staff remain in charge. This announcement followed Senegal's elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 3-2 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16. Senegal had initially held a 2-0 lead with goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr, but Belgium staged a comeback with goals from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans, who also scored a penalty in extra time. Gueye, 27, stated on social media that he would address the team's elimination later but made it clear he would not play under the current coaching crew. Coach Thiaw defended his substitutions, which have drawn criticism, by stating they were due to player fatigue rather than tactical reasons.
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