The coach and the Federation were at the center of a storm following the heavily criticized management of the last Africa Cup of Nations. This caused serious internal turmoil, even prompting some key players to consider stepping down. Ultimately, Pape Thiaw was able to be on the bench for the match against Belgium, which ended in a narrow 3-2 defeat.
A few hours after Senegal's elimination against Belgium (3-2 after extra time) in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup, journalist Romain Molina posted a video on his social media accounts in which he makes several claims about the internal workings of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF).
According to him, the Senegalese national team went through a period of significant tension before the start of the competition.
Tensions within the Senegalese national team
"Senegal was on the verge of playing its match against Norway without a coach," the journalist stated.
Romain Molina also maintains that the FSF's general secretary, Abdoulaye Sow, wields considerable influence within the organization, while the president, Abdoulaye Fall, is experiencing difficulties in leading the Federation.
The journalist also mentions executive committee meetings marked by disagreements, particularly regarding bonuses, representation, and governance.
In his video, he also claims that former coach Pape Diop did not have a contract and was not paid for several months, citing information previously published by Sport News Africa.
Finally, Romain Molina suggests that the Federation considered appointing Hervé Renard as head coach of the national team and was waiting for a potential underperformance by Pape Diop before making a change.
Source: Senenews
