Patrick Vieira named new Senegal coach after World Cup exit
Former French international born in Dakar takes over the Teranga Lions after a turbulent period and a defeat to Belgium in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup.
Former French international born in Dakar takes over the Teranga Lions after a turbulent period and a defeat to Belgium in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup.
Senegal's football federation confirmed on Tuesday the appointment of Patrick Vieira as the new head coach of the senior national team. The 50-year-old tactician, born in Dakar, succeeds Pape Thiaw, who was dismissed along with his entire coaching staff following Senegal's elimination from the 2026 World Cup.
On the official X profile of the Senegalese national team, it was announced: "Patrick Vieira has become the new coach of the Senegal senior national team.. the date of his official presentation and the next steps in his appointment process will be announced later... Welcome to Senegal". The date of his official unveiling has not yet been announced, and contract negotiations are still ongoing.
Thiaw's tenure was marked by controversies that culminated in the defeat to Belgium in the round of 16 at the World Cup. Senegal crashed out after squandering a two-goal lead and ultimately losing 3-2 after extra time, with the local press describing the loss as a "knockout blow" to a project that carried high ambitions. The federation explained in an official statement that the dismissal stems from "an assessment of the team's performance and its future prospects," emphasizing that the change was made "in the interest of Senegalese football."
Disagreements began as early as January 2026 in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations against Morocco. Senegalese players briefly left the pitch after a penalty was awarded to Morocco in the closing stages, and Thiaw was later suspended and fined by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). CAF awarded the title to Morocco, a decision that Senegal contested.
As a player, Vieira won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 with France. He has built his coaching career at clubs such as New York City FC, Nice, Crystal Palace, Strasbourg, and Genoa. This is his first job at the helm of a national team. The federation's executive committee unanimously approved his appointment at a meeting held on Monday.
Vieira's first challenge will be to stabilize the squad and prepare for the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Senegal's next international window begins in September. As for the World Cup elimination stage, Goal.com and Morocco World News refer to the round of 16, while Hespress mentions the round of 32, reflecting a terminological discrepancy among sources.
