Senegal FA blames coach's salary demands for World Cup failure

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) president has pointed to coach Pape Thiaw's demands for a salary increase as the primary cause of toxicity and a breakdown in trust surrounding the national team during the World Cup. Thiaw was dismissed following the team's exit in the last 32.

FSF president Abdoulaye Fall stated that the initial failure to agree on a new contract, stemming from Thiaw's demand to raise his salary from 20 million CFA ($35,000) to 50 million CFA ($87,000) per month, created significant friction. Although an agreement of 30,000 CFA was reached during the tournament, the dispute over compensation and bonuses had already sown discord.

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There was a breakdown in trust between Pape Thiaw and us.

Fall revealed that Thiaw had even threatened not to travel to the World Cup if his demands were not met, requiring intervention from Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The contract was reportedly signed on the eve of their second match, after Thiaw refused to be on the dugout without it. Thiaw's belief that federation officials were his adversaries, according to Fall, negatively impacted the national team's operations and performance.

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The federation officials were his enemies, and this impacted the national team’s operations.