World Cup: Senegal midfielder Gueye quits national team, blames coaching crew

Senegal's World Cup journey has been overshadowed by a public rift, as midfielder Pape Gueye declared he is stepping away from international football indefinitely. His decision comes as a direct protest against head coach Pape Thiaw and the current technical staff.

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I’ll come back to speak about our elimination, but today I announce that as long as this technical staff remains, I will take a break from the national team.

Gueye's announcement, made on social media shortly after Senegal's heartbreaking 3-2 extra-time defeat to Belgium in the Round of 16, cited the coaching crew as the reason for his hiatus. The African champions had held a comfortable 2-0 lead before Belgium staged a dramatic comeback, scoring twice late in the game and converting a penalty in the 125th minute to secure their quarter-final spot.

This exit marked the end of Senegal's quest for their first World Cup knockout-stage victory since their quarter-final appearance in 2002. Gueye's departure adds significant pressure on coach Thiaw, whose tactical decisions, particularly his substitutions while protecting a two-goal lead, have faced widespread criticism from fans and pundits.

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They were tired and couldn’t continue. Leaving them on the field would have been unprofessional on our part. We had to replace them like for like.

Thiaw, however, defended his choices post-match, attributing the substitutions to player fatigue rather than tactical missteps. He insisted that replacing players was necessary for their well-being and that the outcome of the match could not solely be blamed on these changes. Gueye's stance, however, suggests a deep dissatisfaction with the team's management.

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Of course, when you lose a match after leading 2-0, people will talk about the substitutions. But you can’t reduce everything to that. These changes were dictated primarily by fatigue rather than tactical considerations.