The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has blamed a salary dispute with former head coach Pape Thiaw for the atmosphere that surrounded the national team during the FIFA World Cup.
FSF president Abdoulaye Fall made the revelation at a press conference in Dakar on Monday, a day after Thiaw was dismissed following Senegal’s elimination in the Round of 32 by Belgium on July 1.
“There was a breakdown in trust between Pape Thiaw and us,” Fall said, attributing the situation to the initial failure to agree on a new contract after the coach requested a pay rise.
Thiaw, a 45-year-old former Senegal international who took charge of the national team in 2024, had sought an increase from his salary of 20 million CFA before the squad departed for the World Cup.
According to Fall, both parties eventually agreed to a salary of 30 million CFA during the tournament and also resolved other issues, including players’ bonuses.
Fall disclosed that Thiaw threatened not to travel with the team unless his demands were met, adding that Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye persuaded the coach to join the delegation on the day the squad was due to leave for the United States.
He also said the contract was eventually signed on the eve of Senegal’s second group match against Norway after Thiaw refused to sit in the technical area until the agreement had been finalised.
Thiaw believed the “federation officials were his enemies, and this impacted the national team’s operations,” Fall said.
Senegal lost to France and Norway during the group stage before a 5-0 victory over Iraq secured qualification for the knockout phase, where the Lions of Teranga were eliminated by Belgium.
Under Thiaw, Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations in January before later being stripped of the title as punishment for walking off the pitch during the chaotic final against Morocco.