Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw has insisted that his side is fully focused on the 2026 FIFA World Cup and not dwelling on the controversial fallout from January’s Africa Cup of Nations final.
Speaking ahead of Senegal’s highly anticipated Group I opener against the France national football team at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Thiaw made it clear that the Lions of Teranga are concentrating solely on the challenge ahead.
“I am not going to go back over the AFCON, that’s behind us. This is the World Cup. We have prepared well for it, and we are focused on tomorrow’s match,” Thiaw told reporters during Monday’s pre-match press conference.
His comments come nearly five months after one of the most dramatic and controversial finals in African football history. Senegal believed they had secured a crucial advantage in the AFCON final before a disputed sequence of decisions sparked outrage among players and officials.
Frustration boiled over after a Senegal goal was ruled out and a late penalty was awarded to the hosts. Several Senegal players temporarily left the pitch in protest before eventually returning to complete the match. The penalty was subsequently saved, and midfielder Pape Gueye later scored what appeared to be the winning goal as Senegal celebrated a second continental title.
However, the celebrations proved short-lived. Two months later, the Confederation of African Football stripped Senegal of the championship following disciplinary proceedings related to the walk-off incident.
Senegal subsequently appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where the case remains under review.
Despite the unresolved legal battle, Thiaw is determined to ensure the controversy does not overshadow Senegal’s World Cup campaign. The coach emphasized that his players have moved on and are fully committed to making a strong start against one of the tournament favourites.
The clash against France is widely regarded as one of the standout fixtures of the opening round, with Senegal hoping to repeat the giant-killing spirit that saw them famously defeat France in their first-ever World Cup match at the 2002 tournament.
With stars such as Sadio Mané, Nicolas Jackson and Kalidou Koulibaly leading the charge, the Lions of Teranga are aiming to begin their campaign on a positive note and prove they can challenge the world’s best on football’s biggest stage.
For Thiaw and his players, the message is clear: the AFCON controversy belongs in the past, while their attention is firmly fixed on the opportunities that lie ahead at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
