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Senegal news

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The gist

Senegal hired Patrick Vieira as head coach, replacing fired Pape Thiaw.
The move aims to restore the team's AFCON title amid an ongoing appeal.

Background

Senegal's football federation appointed Patrick Vieira as head coach on Tuesday, succeeding Pape Thiaw, who was dismissed after the team's World Cup elimination in the round of 32. Vieira, born in Dakar, is a former World Cup winner with France and had a successful playing career at Arsenal and Manchester City. His coaching career has been less successful, with stints at New York City FC, Nice, Crystal Palace, Strasbourg, and Genoa. The appointment is seen as a strategic move to build a high-level technical staff, with Senegal still hoping to regain their 2025 AFCON title through an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 2026Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations final under Pape Thiaw, but were later stripped of the title for walking off the pitch during the chaotic final against Morocco.
  2. Aug 18, 2026Senegal's football federation announced the appointment of Patrick Vieira as head coach, replacing Pape Thiaw, who was fired after the World Cup elimination.
  3. Aug 19, 2026Vieira's appointment was widely reported, with details of his contract length not disclosed.
  4. Sep 21, 2025 - Oct 6, 2026Senegal's next competitive fixtures are scheduled in the 2027 AFCON Qualifiers against Mozambique, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
  5. Oct 8, 2026Senegal's appeal against the CAF ruling to award the 2025 AFCON title to Morocco will be heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.

Who’s saying what

Official
The federation called the appointment a 'strategic move' to establish a high-level technical staff in line with the country's sporting ambitions.
Analysts
Vieira's coaching career has been less successful than his playing days, with stints at several clubs yielding mixed results.

Still unverified

The length of Vieira's contract has not been disclosed by the federation.

Sources

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