ONE of Senegal’s star midfielders is ‘taking a break’ from the national team until the current coaching staff changes.
The African giants exited the World Cup on Wednesday after throwing away a 2-0 lead against to .
Pape Gueye is refusing to play for his country until changes are made in the dugout Credit: Getty
Senegal boss pape Thiaw leading his Senegal team off the pitch in the Afcon final Credit: EPA
Pape Gueye, who scored a brace in ‘s win over Iraq at the tournament, made a stunning confession after the game.
He said: “I will come back to say a few words about the elimination… but I am announcing today that as long as this coaching staff is in place, I will be taking a break from the national team.”
Gueye, who plays his club in for Vilarreal, has won 45 caps for his country.
He started the game against , but was taken off for Monaco’s Lamine Camara after 66 minutes when they led 2-0.
Whether it is just that emotions were running high after such a loss or because of that substitution, clearly, he does not see eye-to-eye with boss Pape Thiaw.
Thiaw defended his substitutions in the post-match press conference, explaining that the changes were made “at the request of tired players,” suggesting Gueye wanted to be hauled.
He also said: “It is a very cruel defeat because we were playing well and leading 2-0.
“But games are not 85 minutes long. They came back, and we weren’t able to manage the game defensively. Congratulations to Belgium.”
The manager, who was a part of the famous Senegal squad that defeated 1-0 at the 2002 World Cup, is not exactly Mr. Popular at the moment.
He has been in charge of his country since December 2024 and was at the heart of the controversy which resulted in his side being stripped of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title.
Thiaw ushered his team off the field when were awarded a stoppage-time penalty in the Afcon final in January.
The players eventually returned after a delay of about 17 minutes before Brahim Diaz’s penalty was saved and Gueye, the player in question, scored an extra-time winner.
However, instead – due to the walkoff.
Senegal have lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport and hope to regain the title, but it seems potentially irreversible damage has been done.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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