The Senegalese Football Federation announced the dismissal of Pape Thiaw, head coach of the national team, after exiting the World Cup in the Round of 16. Senegal lost its first two group matches against France and Norway, and squandered a 2-0 lead against Belgium with five minutes remaining in the Round of 32, losing 3-2 in extra time. Thiaw, 45, was set to begin a five-match suspension in September, at the start of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, after he signaled his players to leave the field in protest of a penalty awarded to Morocco in the final match played in Rabat. The French newspaper L'Equipe reported that French World Cup winner Patrick Vieira is among the leading candidates to take over. The Senegalese Federation will hold a press conference next Monday.