Senegal midfielder, Pape Gueye, has announced he will step away from international football for as long as head coach Pape Thiaw remains in charge following the Teranga Lions’ exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 27-year-old made the announcement on social media shortly after Senegal surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to Belgium after extra time in their Round of 16 match.
In a post written in French, Gueye said he would address Senegal’s World Cup elimination later but confirmed he would not represent the national team under the current coaching staff.
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“I’ll come back to speak about our elimination, but today I announce that as long as this technical staff remains, I will take a break from the national team.”
Belgium comeback ends Senegal’s campaign
Senegal appeared on course for a place in the quarter-finals after first-half goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr gave the African champions a 2-0 lead.
Belgium mounted a late comeback through Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans, forcing extra time before Tielemans converted a penalty in the 125th minute. The spot-kick was awarded following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, sealing a dramatic 3-2 victory.
The defeat ended Senegal’s bid to record their first World Cup knockout-stage win since reaching the quarter-finals on their tournament debut in 2002.
Pressure grows on Thiaw
Gueye’s announcement is expected to increase pressure on Thiaw, whose substitutions while protecting Senegal’s two-goal advantage have attracted criticism from fans and football analysts.
The coach, however, defended his decisions after the match, insisting they were made because of player fatigue rather than tactical considerations.
“They were tired and couldn’t continue. Leaving them on the field would have been unprofessional on our part. We had to replace them like for like,” Thiaw said.
“Of course, when you lose a match after leading 2-0, people will talk about the substitutions. But you can’t reduce everything to that. These changes were dictated primarily by fatigue rather than tactical considerations.”
Gueye’s decision leaves uncertainty over his international future, with his return now tied to changes in Senegal’s coaching setup.
