Senegalese FA says Thiaw salary demands caused World Cup downfall

AFP | Dakar

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The Senegalese football federation (FSF) president said on Monday that toxicity surrounded the team at the World Cup after coach Pape Thiaw had demanded a pay rise.

Thiaw was sacked on Sunday after his side were knocked out in the last 32 by Belgium on 1 July.

“There was a breakdown in trust between Pape Thiaw and us”, FSF president Abdoulaye Fall told a press conference in Dakar, citing the initial failure to sign a new contract after Thiaw's demand for more money.

Thiaw, 45 and a former Senegal international, took over as national team boss in 2024.

Before leaving for the World Cup, he had asked for a salary increase from 20 million CFA ($35 000) per month to 50 million CFA ($87 000).

Ultimately, the sides landed on an agreement of 30 000 CFA [Note: verbatim from text, likely a typo in the original print for 30 million] during the World Cup and also settled other disputes such as bonuses.

At one point, Thiaw threatened not to travel to the World Cup if his demands were not met, Fall said, explaining Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye convinced him to change his mind on the day the team were due to depart for the United States.