The eyes of a number of decision-makers in Senegalese football are turning towards former French star Patrick Vieira to take over the coaching of the Senegal national team, succeeding current coach Pape Thiaw. These developments come in the wake of the disappointing exit of the 'Teranga Lions' from the Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup, following a harsh defeat against Belgium (2-3) after extra time.

In this context, the executive office of the Senegalese Football Federation will hold an emergency meeting tomorrow, Saturday, in the capital Dakar. The meeting will primarily focus on conducting a comprehensive and detailed evaluation of Senegal's participation in the World Cup held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, which ended in an early departure unbecoming of the fans' ambitions, especially as the organizational and administrative errors that accompanied the camp caused frustration, particularly since the elimination came in the best match the Lions played due to a serious error by goalkeeper Mory Diaw that cost Senegal a ticket to the Round of 16.

Against the backdrop of this farewell, the fate of coach Thiaw is surrounded by much speculation and controversy within the corridors of the federation. While Thiaw stated that he extended his contract during the tournament, other sources within the federation dispute the validity of this account according to French newspaper L'Équipe, heralding heated discussions about the future of the coach whose position is severely shaken and close to dismissal, amid a strong desire from some officials to bring a new face to lead the next phase.

Vieira's name stands out as an ideal candidate to take on this task in the eyes of federation officials. The coach, who has not been under any contract since leaving his post at Italian club Genoa in November 2025, was born in the Senegalese capital Dakar, and has strong ties to his home country, having previously contributed to the founding of the 'Diambers' Academy, which is one of the largest breeding grounds for young talent in Senegal.