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’ dramatic exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 27-year-old made the announcement on social media shortly after Senegal squandered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to Belgium after extra time in their Round of 16 clash.
In a post written in French, Gueye said he would address the team’s elimination at a later date but made it clear he would not play under the current technical crew, per BBC.
“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,” he wrote.
Juste à sa réaction au moment où il est sorti j’ai compris que y’avait un truc chelou pic.twitter.com/EvEDi3CaTw https://t.co/hfSXJ6PPb3
— (@La_Melooow) July 2, 2026
Fans react to Gueye’s statement
Godsseeit wrote on X:
“We need to ask the coach the real questions; what he did at that moment is suspicious. There are certain things you haven’t seen from the start of the World Cup. And Africa’s problem is staying silent when it gets trampled.”
