The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has officially appointed France legend Patrick Vieira as the new head coach of the senior national team, the Lions of Teranga.
The announcement, made via the team’s official page on X, ushers in a new era for Senegalese football following a disappointing 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
“Patrick Vieira has become the new coach of the Senegal senior national team. The date of his official presentation and the next steps in his appointment process will be announced later. Welcome to Senegal,” the FSF communicated on Tuesday.
Vieira takes over the mantle from Pape Thiaw, who was recently relieved of his duties alongside his entire technical staff.
Thiaw’s exit followed a painful round of 16 elimination at the hands of Belgium at the 2026 World Cup, a defeat heavily criticised by the Senegalese media as a “knockout blow” to the country’s high-ranking international ambitions.
The executive committee of the FSF confirmed that the decision to revamp the technical setup was taken in the interest of Senegalese football following a thorough evaluation of the team’s recent performances and long-term prospects.
The 1998 World Cup winner and former Arsenal star now faces the huge task of restructuring the squad and mounting a formidable challenge for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
