Senegal are expected to turn to former international Habib Beye as the leading candidate to become the country’s next head coach following Pap Thiaw’s departure, according to reports.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has centred its search on Beye, with French newspaper L’Équipe reporting that he has emerged as the preferred choice to take charge of the senior national team.
The federation is understood to favour appointing a coach of Senegalese origin, maintaining the approach that has characterised the recent leadership of the Lions. That philosophy previously saw Aliou Cissé and later Pap Thiaw guide the national side, with the FSF keen to continue entrusting the team to a homegrown manager.
The search for a new coach comes in the aftermath of Senegal’s disappointing exit from the 2026 World Cup, where they were eliminated in the round of 32 after a 3-2 defeat by Belgium.
However, the team’s problems did not end with their elimination.
The Senegal delegation was due to leave the United States and return to Dakar on Thursday night following the tournament. Instead, their journey home was delayed after transport arrangements broke down, leaving several members of the squad stranded.
According to information gathered by journalist Malang Sané, the delegation travelled to the airport ahead of a scheduled departure at around 2:00am local time. Despite arriving as planned, the group spent several hours waiting before discovering that no aircraft was available for the flight.
The unexpected setback forced the players and officials to abandon their travel plans and return to their hotel while awaiting further arrangements.
A source who witnessed the events described the situation, saying: “The players went to the airport, but after waiting for hours, there were no flights available. They finally returned to their hotel.”
The travel disruption adds to a difficult period for Senegal following their World Cup campaign, which ended earlier than hoped after their defeat by Belgium in the knockout stage.
Attention is now turning to the future of the national team, with the FSF pressing ahead with plans to appoint a successor to Thiaw.
Beye has emerged as the clear front runner in that process, with the federation reportedly placing significant emphasis on continuing its preference for a Senegalese coach. The approach reflects a policy that has shaped the team’s recent history under both Cissé and Thiaw.
Should Beye’s appointment be confirmed, he would inherit a squad seeking to recover from the disappointment of its World Cup exit while preparing for the next phase of international competition.
For now, the immediate concern remains ensuring the safe return of the delegation from the United States after the unexpected travel complications delayed their departure, before the federation completes its search for the next man to lead the Lions of Senegal.
