A scandal ahead of the 2026 World Cup: Senegal’s coach refused to fly due to an expired contract.
Senegal’s head coach refused to travel to the 2026 World Cup.
Papa Thiava’s contract expired in February, and no new contract was signed. For several months, he worked for the national team without any pay.
It wasn’t until after talks with the federation’s president that the coach agreed to join the team. The flight had to be delayed.
The situation involving Papa Thiava is a classic example of management crisis in African football. Working without a valid contract for months shows both the dedication of the coach and the systemic negligence of the federation. Emergency negotiations and the delay in the flight before the start of the qualifying process are concerning signs for the “Terragos”. Stability within the coaching staff will be a key factor in their chances of qualifying for the tournament.