Senegal’s Pape Gueye refuses national team return while current staff remains – Sportstar
Senegal’s Pape Gueye refuses national team return while current staff remains
Pape Gueye’s decision to pause his Senegal career has added to the turmoil surrounding the national team following its World Cup exit and ongoing disputes with CAF
Updated : Jul 02, 2026 14:41 IST – 2 MINS READ
AP
Senegal’s Pape Gueye in action with Belgium’s Charles De Ketelaere.
| Photo Credit: REUTERS
After blowing a two-goal lead in the closing minutes against Belgium and crashing out of the FIFA World Cup, Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye announced he will step away from international football as long as the current coaching staff remains in charge
Senegal led 2-0 until the 85th minute in the round-of-32 clash but conceded twice before the end of regulation before losing 3-2 to a penalty deep into extra time
Gueye wrote on Instagram: “As long as it’s this technical staff in place, I will take a break from the national team.”
The 27-year-old Villarreal CF midfielder, who scored twice in Senegal’s 5-0 group-stage victory over Iraq, did not name head coach Pape Thiaw directly
It has been a turbulent year for Senegal. The team initially won the Africa Cup of Nations in January, with Gueye scoring the extra-time winner against Morocco, but the result was later overturned following an unprecedented appeal
The controversy stemmed from Senegal walking off the pitch after host Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty with the match goalless. Play resumed after a 15-minute delay, and the penalty was eventually saved
However, following Morocco’s appeal against the disciplinary rulings, the Confederation of African Football ruled that Senegal should forfeit the match and suspended Thiaw for five matches in the next edition of the tournament
Senegal is now awaiting the outcome of its appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland
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