EXPOSED: Senegal's head coach Pape Thiaw considered withdrawing from the World Cup due to salary disputes.

[caption id="attachment_1278387" align="alignnone" width="3277"] Pape Thiaw[/caption] Senegal's World Cup journey was marred by a detrimental environment stemming from head coach Pape Thiaw's requests for a salary increase and his threats to withdraw from the tournament, as disclosed by the president of the country's football federation. The Senegalese Football Federation terminated Thiaw's contract on Sunday following the Lions of Teranga's elimination in the round of 32 by Belgium on July 1. "A trust breakdown occurred between Pape Thiaw and us," FSF president Abdoulaye Fall noted at a press conference in Dakar, pointing to the failure to finalize a new contract after Thiaw's salary demands went unaddressed. Thiaw, 45, a former Senegal international, assumed the national team leadership in 2024. Before heading to the World Cup, he sought to elevate his monthly pay from 20 million CFA (approximately US$35,000) to 50 million CFA (around US$87,000). Ultimately, the two parties settled on a figure of 30 million CFA during the World Cup and resolved additional disagreements, including bonus structures. At one point, Thiaw threatened to forgo traveling to the World Cup if his demands went unmet, Fall explained. Senegalese president Bassirou Diomaye Faye persuaded him to reconsider on the day the team was scheduled to depart for the United States. Fall mentioned that the contract was finalized just before Senegal's second match of the tournament against Norway, as Thiaw insisted on not sitting in the dugout until it was completed. Thiaw felt that "federation officials were his adversaries, which affected the national team's dynamics," Fall stated. During the World Cup, the Lions of Teranga experienced two losses in the group stage against France and Norway, before securing a 5-0 victory over Iraq to advance to the knockout rounds. They were eliminated in the round of 32 by Belgium, succumbing 3-2 after extra time. Under Thiaw's leadership, Senegal clinched the Africa Cup of Nations title in January but later had the championship stripped due to their walk-off during the tumultuous final against Morocco.