Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye has announced that he will no longer play for the national team as long as the current coaching staff led by head coach Pape Thiaw remains in charge following the Teranga Lions’ elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Villarreal midfielder made the announcement on Instagram shortly after Senegal suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Belgium in the Round of 32, despite leading by two goals before eventually losing after extra time.
Gueye featured in all of Senegal’s matches at the tournament, scoring two goals and providing one assist during an impressive individual campaign. The 27-year-old played 66 minutes against Belgium before being replaced by Lamine Camara.
In an emotional post on social media, the former Marseille midfielder expressed his disappointment over the team’s exit and hinted that he would explain more at a later date.
“I will come back later to talk about the reasons for the elimination,” Gueye wrote. “But today I am announcing that as long as this coaching staff remains in place, I will stop playing for the national team.”
The announcement comes as a major blow for Senegal, with Gueye having established himself as one of the team’s key performers during the World Cup. It remains to be seen whether the midfielder will reconsider his decision in the future.
