Senegal sack coach Pape Bouna Thiaw after disappointing World Cup campaign

...Patrick Vieira among leading candidates to replace Thiaw

By Maxwell Kumoye

Senegal has dismissed head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw following the Teranga Lions' disappointing campaign at the FIFA World Cup.

The Senegalese Football Federation announced the decision on Saturday, citing the team's underwhelming performances at the tournament as the reason for the managerial change.

Fresh from lifting the Africa Cup of Nations title in January after defeating Morocco in the final, Senegal arrived at the World Cup with high expectations.

However, they endured a disappointing campaign, losing their opening two Group Stage matches to France and Norway.

Their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals were dashed in dramatic fashion in the Round of 16.

Senegal surrendered a 2-0 lead with just five minutes of normal time remaining against Belgium before eventually losing 3-2 after extra time.

Thiaw, 45, was also due to begin a five-match suspension in September at the start of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The ban was imposed after he led his players off the pitch in protest over the penalty awarded to Morocco during January's AFCON final in Rabat.

According to French newspaper L'Equipe, former France captain and World Cup winner Patrick Vieira, who was born in Dakar, is among the leading candidates to replace Thiaw.

The Senegalese Football Federation has scheduled a press conference for Monday, where further details regarding the coaching change are expected to be announced.

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