Senegal part company with head coach Pape Thiaw following their elimination from the 2026 World Cup, with former France international Patrick Vieira emerging as the leading candidate to replace him.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has formally begun the process of ending its relationship with Thiaw and his coaching staff after the Lions were knocked out in the round of 32.
However, Thiaw’s departure has not yet been completed. The federation must still reach an agreement with Senegal’s Ministry of Sports, which is conducting its own assessment of the team’s performance at the World Cup.
The move comes after Senegal’s campaign ended earlier than hoped, prompting the federation to consider a change in leadership and the possibility of beginning a new era under a different coach.
Vieira has now become the leading name in the search for Thiaw’s successor, with discussions about the former France midfielder’s potential appointment reportedly gathering pace.
According to Foot Mercato, Vieira is close to taking charge of the Senegal national team. The former French international, who was born in Dakar, is currently without a club after leaving Italian side Genoa and is understood to have become a priority for Senegalese football officials.
🚨🇸🇳 PATRICK VIEIRA COULD BE THE NEXT COACH OF SENEGAL.The name of the former French international is increasingly mentioned in discussions within the Senegalese Football Federation.At this stage, Patrick Vieira appears as the clear favorite to…
The potential appointment would represent a significant change for Vieira, who has so far built his coaching career in club football. A move to Senegal would give him the opportunity to manage a national side for the first time.
Vieira has previously worked with New York City, OGC Nice, Crystal Palace, Strasbourg and Genoa. His next role could therefore see him move into international management and take responsibility for a Senegal side looking to rebuild following its World Cup exit.
The 1998 World Cup winner has a strong connection with Senegal, having been born in the country’s capital, Dakar. That background could add another dimension to his possible appointment as the Lions’ new head coach.
Negotiations between Vieira and Senegalese officials have already taken place in recent days, with the discussions said to be progressing in a positive direction.
However, there are still two important issues to be resolved before any appointment can be officially confirmed.
The first is the contractual situation involving Thiaw. The Senegalese federation must complete the process surrounding his departure before it can formally move ahead with a new coach.
The second is the position of the Ministry of Sports. While the federation has started the termination procedure, the ministry intends to conduct its own review of Senegal’s World Cup campaign before giving the necessary approval for the change.
That means Vieira’s appointment, although increasingly likely, cannot yet be considered official.
For Senegal, the potential arrival of Vieira would mark the beginning of a new chapter after the team’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup. The federation’s decision to seek a fresh start indicates its desire to move quickly beyond the tournament and appoint a coach capable of leading the Lions into their next phase.
Vieira, meanwhile, could return to the country of his birth in a new role, having spent his managerial career working at clubs in England, France, the United States and Italy.
With talks already under way and negotiations progressing positively, the former France international appears to be the frontrunner. But the final decision will depend on the completion of Thiaw’s departure and approval from the Ministry of Sports.
Until those matters are settled, Senegal’s search for a new manager remains ongoing, although Vieira is increasingly being positioned as the man who could lead the national team into a new era.
