Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has admitted his side struggled to impose themselves during their 3-2 defeat to the United States, while insisting the Lions of Teranga still have time to improve ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The friendly match in Charlotte formed part of Senegal’s preparations for next year’s global tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
While the result was disappointing for the African giants, Thiaw viewed the encounter as an important learning opportunity as his team continues its build-up to the competition.
Senegal endured a difficult opening period and found themselves under pressure from the start.
The Americans established an early advantage and caused persistent problems for the West African side throughout the match.
Although Senegal responded and managed to get back into contention, the United States eventually secured a 3-2 victory thanks to a decisive goal from Folarin Balogun in the second half.
Speaking after the match, Thiaw acknowledged that his team had been second best in several key areas.
“We did not win enough duels and we did not manage to impose our style of play or retain possession of the ball as we would have liked,” said the Senegalese coach.
His assessment highlighted one of the main concerns from the match.
Senegal, traditionally known for combining physical strength with technical quality, struggled to control possession and dictate the tempo against a highly energetic American side.
For many observers, the encounter offered a glimpse of the challenges African teams could face when competing against opponents who combine athleticism with aggressive pressing.
Thiaw reserved particular praise for the hosts, noting that their physical approach disrupted Senegal’s attempts to build attacks from deep positions.
“The Americans possess great athletic power and put us under pressure in our own half. We tried to build our attacks from the back, but they constantly disrupted us. Their strategy worked perfectly.”
Despite the defeat, the coach remained optimistic about Senegal’s prospects and stressed that the team still has valuable time to address its shortcomings before the World Cup begins.
“We still have time to improve before the World Cup, but an intense week awaits us to correct our mistakes and arrive in the best possible condition.”
The comments reflect a broader focus within the Senegal camp on preparation rather than immediate results.
The Lions remain one of Africa’s strongest football nations and are expected to be among the continent’s leading representatives at the expanded 48-team World Cup.
Another issue that attracted attention during the match was the condition of Bara Ndiaye, who was substituted and briefly caused concern among supporters.
However, Thiaw moved quickly to reassure fans, explaining that the player had not suffered a serious injury.
According to the coach, Ndiaye experienced muscle cramps during the match and there is currently no major concern regarding his fitness.
Nevertheless, the Senegal medical team will continue to monitor him closely in the coming days.
The update will come as welcome news for supporters, particularly as squad depth and player availability are likely to play a crucial role during Senegal’s preparations.
The Lions now shift their focus to their next friendly fixture against Saudi Arabia in Texas on June 9.
The match will provide another opportunity for Thiaw and his coaching staff to evaluate the squad and make adjustments before the World Cup campaign gathers momentum.
