Tribal Football

Pape Gueye 'steps away' from Senegal duty after World Cup row

Senegal star Pape Gueye.
Senegal star Pape Gueye.Reuters

The fallout from Senegal's exit at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has continued with Pape Gueye stepping away from international duty amid a dispute with his coaches.

The African giants were dramatically knocked out at the Round of 23 stage by Belgium after surrendering a two-goal lead in the final five minutes in Seattle.

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Goals either side of the break from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr had seemingly put Pape Thiaw's team through to the next phase, but late strikes from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans dragged the game into extra time, before Tielemans secured the Red Devils passage with a 125th-minute penalty.

Villarreal star Gueye - who has been linked with a possible summer move to Everton - was forced to watch on from the sidelines after being substituted by Thiaw on 66 minutes with Senegal leading 2-0.

Goalscorer Diarra and key pair Sadio Mane and Iliman Ndiaye were also taken off by Thiaw and 45-cap Gueye has hit out at the management in a furious update over his international future.

"I'm announcing today that as long as this coaching staff is in place, I will be taking a break from the national team."

Gueye's statement will amp up the focus Thiaw's position with the 45-year-old still under pressure following Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations debacle at the start of 2026.

Thiaw infamously ushered his players off the field when Morocco were controversially awarded a stoppage-time penalty in January's final.

Senegal eventually returned after a lengthy delay, before Brahim Diaz's penalty was saved, and Gueye scored an extra-time winner.

However, Morocco were later declared the winners of the tournament as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) overturned the result due to Senegal's walkout. 

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