Senegal had the 2026 World Cup in the bag. They were beating Belgium 2-0, there were minutes left, and the whole country was already dreaming of the round of 32. Then coach Pape Thiaw took off Pape Gueye, 27, Villarreal midfielder and one of the team’s standout players. Belgium equalized, the match went to extra time, and Youri Tielemans completed the comeback with a penalty in the 125th minute. 💔
Hours later, Gueye held nothing back. In the mixed zone he denied being tired, the reason Thiaw gave for taking him off, and on Instagram he announced that he is taking a break from the national team while the coach remains in charge. A public statement, unfiltered, straight from the locker room to social media.
Senegal was eliminated and now faces something worse than losing a match: an open rift between its coach and one of its biggest stars. How long will it take for this to become unsustainable? 🇸🇳