Senegal’s World Cup exit has been followed by fresh speculation after midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye posted a cryptic message on social media in the wake of the Lions of Teranga’s elimination from the tournament.
The midfielder’s comments came after Senegal’s dramatic defeat to Belgium in the round of 32, a result that ended the country’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign and intensified scrutiny of the team’s performance.
Having struggled during the group stage, Senegal appeared to have rescued their tournament when they established a 2-0 lead against Belgium. The Lions remained two goals ahead until the 86th minute before Belgium mounted a remarkable comeback.
The Red Devils scored twice late in normal time to force extra time before completing the turnaround with a 3-2 victory, bringing Senegal’s World Cup journey to an end.
In the aftermath of the defeat, Gueye published a message on his Instagram account that appeared to hint at unresolved issues surrounding the national team.
The midfielder wrote: “Alhamdoulillah, in all circumstances. Proud of you, guys! But now, let’s talk. Since the end of the match, I can’t find the words or understand what happened. Still, I have my own little idea… And you? Looks like this is how it will end… Give me a bit of time.”
Although Gueye did not identify anyone directly in his post, the message appeared to be aimed at members of Pape Thiaw’s coaching staff.
His comments have added to the debate surrounding Senegal’s disappointing campaign, which concluded earlier than many had expected.
The defeat to Belgium proved particularly painful given the position Senegal had placed themselves in during the closing stages of normal time. Holding a two-goal advantage with only minutes remaining, the Lions looked on course to reach the next round before the match slipped away.
Belgium’s late revival transformed the contest, with the European side overturning the deficit to secure victory after extra time and eliminate Senegal from the competition.
The dramatic nature of the result has left questions over what led to the collapse, and Gueye’s social media message has fuelled further discussion in the aftermath of the defeat.
While the midfielder did not elaborate on what he meant by having “my own little idea,” he suggested he intended to speak further once he had taken time to reflect on the events that unfolded.
His statement also indicated that he was still struggling to make sense of the outcome, despite expressing pride in his teammates.
The post has emerged during a period of uncertainty for Senegal following their exit from the World Cup, with attention now turning to the circumstances surrounding the team’s elimination.
For now, Gueye has not provided any further explanation beyond his initial message, instead asking for more time before addressing the situation in greater detail.
His remarks have nevertheless ensured that discussion over Senegal’s World Cup campaign continues even after the Lions’ hopes of progressing in the tournament were ended by Belgium’s dramatic comeback victory.
