Senegal national team coach Pape Thiaw has stated that the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is now in the past, as the team shifts its focus to the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Speaking to reporters on June 15, 2026, Thiaw emphasized the need to move forward after Senegal's performance in the continental tournament.
Senegal, the defending champions from 2021, were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 2025 AFCON held in Morocco, losing to Ivory Coast on penalties. Thiaw acknowledged the disappointment but stressed the importance of regrouping for the World Cup campaign.
βThe AFCON is behind us. We have analyzed our performance and learned from it. Now, our full attention is on the World Cup qualifiers,β Thiaw said. Senegal currently leads Group B in the CAF qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, with matches scheduled against Togo and Namibia in September 2026.
The team is set to begin training camp in July 2026 to prepare for the qualifiers. Thiaw also confirmed that key players like Sadio ManΓ© and Kalidou Koulibaly remain integral to his plans, despite their advancing age.
