The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has officially appointed former Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder Patrick Vieira as the new head coach of the national team. The 50-year-old, who was born in the Senegalese capital of Dakar, takes over the role following the dismissal of Pape Thiaw.
Thiaw’s tenure ended after his team faced significant criticism for their performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they were eliminated in the Round of 32 following a 3-2 loss to Belgium. Thiaw had previously guided the squad to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title, though that achievement was later overturned when the trophy was awarded to Morocco due to a mid-game walk-off by Senegalese staff and players.
In a statement released on social media, the FSF described the hiring of Vieira as a “strategic move” intended to “establish a high-level technical set-up, in line with our country’s sporting ambitions.” While the federation has yet to confirm the date of his official presentation, they noted that further details regarding his installation would be provided in a subsequent announcement.
Vieira brings an extensive pedigree to the position, having earned over 100 caps for France. His international career included winning the 1998 World Cup and the Euro 2000 tournament. At the club level, he enjoyed a decorated career that featured three Premier League titles with Arsenal, followed by stints at Juventus, Inter Milan, and Manchester City.
His transition into management began in 2016 with New York City FC in Major League Soccer. He subsequently returned to France to manage Nice in 2018, followed by spells in the Premier League with Crystal Palace and later roles at Strasbourg and Genoa.
The new coach faces an immediate challenge as Senegal prepares for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, which are scheduled to take place during the international window from September 21 to October 6, 2026. Although the Confederation of African Football has not yet finalized the group schedule, Senegal is set to face Ethiopia, Sudan, and Mozambique.
Beyond the upcoming qualifiers, the national team remains embroiled in a legal battle to reclaim the 2025 AFCON title. The federation is currently appealing the CAF ruling that stripped them of the trophy to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, seeking to overturn the decision that handed the title to Morocco. The report also notes that vieira was born in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, but represented France on the international stage and in 1998 was part of the first French side to lift a World Cup. The report also notes that which was confirmed by a 3-2 defeat by Belgium, and was subsequently dismissed, thiaw was heavily criticised for his side’s Round of 32 exit at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
