Midfielder Pape Gueye has spoken about his decision to stop wearing the Senegal shirt as long as the staff stayed in place. The arrival of head coach Patrick Vieira has changed everything.
After Senegal’s elimination by Belgium (2-3 aet) in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup, Pape Gueye announced he no longer wanted to wear the Lions shirt as long as the staff stayed in place, according to Maxifoot. The 27-year-old midfielder, with 48 caps and 7 goals, has since changed his mind.
Speaking to DAZN, he looked back on the episode. The arrival of Patrick Vieira at the helm of the national team has changed everything, reports Maxifoot. In the meantime, Vieira replaced Pape Thiaw after the round-of-32 exit, as Sports Mole notes.
“My last World Cup”
In his interview with DAZN, Pape Gueye spoke about an early substitution in a match: “I go off fairly early in the game, there are things I didn’t quite understand or appreciate. (…) The World Cup isn’t like the AFCON, it’s every four years. You never know what can happen, it could be my last World Cup,” he said, in comments relayed by Maxifoot.
The player, who has 48 caps and 7 goals for the Lions, did not go into the details of his exchange with the new head coach. His withdrawal, announced after the World Cup, concerned the staff in place at that time.
The Vieira effect on the Lions
Patrick Vieira has therefore taken charge of the national team in place of Pape Thiaw. Under his leadership, Senegal are unbeaten: a 1-1 draw in Mozambique, a 1-0 win in Ethiopia and a 4-1 victory over Sudan, according to Sports Mole.
For Pape Gueye, that arrival changed everything and led to his return to the national team.
Sudan – Senegal, the next fixture
Senegal will play in Sudan on 16 November 2026, at the Juba National Stadium, according to Sports Mole. The trip will be a chance for the Lions to extend their unbeaten run under Patrick Vieira.