Senegal national team coach Pape Thiaw has made a surprising claim about his team's European opponents in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying, stating he believes Norway is the continent's best side, not reigning world champions France. The comments were reported by Senegalese media ahead of the crucial qualifiers.
Thiaw's Senegal is drawn in Group I of the European/CONMEBOL playoff section for the 2026 World Cup, alongside France, Norway, and a team from the CONMEBOL confederation. The draw, conducted in late 2025, set the stage for a highly competitive group.
"For me, the best European team in our group is Norway," Thiaw was quoted as saying. He acknowledged France's quality but emphasized Norway's strong generation of players, likely referring to stars like Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard. His remarks downplay France's status as the 2022 World Cup runner-up and a perennial favorite.
The statement appears to be a tactical mind game ahead of the qualifying matches, which are scheduled to begin later in 2026. Senegal, the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations champion, will face a significant challenge to advance from the group against two top European nations.
