The Senegalese football federation president revealed on Monday that toxicity surrounded the team at the World Cup after coach Pape Thiaw had demanded a pay rise.
Thiaw was fired on Sunday after his team was eliminated in the final 32 by Belgium on July 1.
“There was a breakdown in trust between Pape Thiaw and us,” FSF president Abdoulaye Fall said during a news conference in Dakar, noting the initial refusal to sign a new contract following Thiaw’s demand for more money.
Thiaw, 45, a former Senegalese international, takes over as national team manager in 2024.
Prior to heading for the World Cup, he requested a wage raise from 20 million CFA (87,000).
Ultimately, the sides reached a deal of 30,000 CFA during the World Cup and resolved other issues such as bonuses.
Thiaw vowed not to attend the World Cup if his demands were not granted, according to Fall, but Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye persuaded him to change his mind on the day the squad was scheduled to embark for the United States.
Fall stated that the deal was finalized on the eve of their second game in the competition, against Norway, after Thiaw refused to sit in the dugout until it was finalized.
Thiaw felt that “federation officials were his enemies, and this impacted the national team’s operations,” Fall said.
During the World Cup, the Lions of Teranga lost twice in the group stage, to France and Norway, before winning 5-0 over Iraq to go to the knockout rounds.
Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations final in January under Thiaw but was stripped of the trophy as a result of walking off the pitch during the dramatic final against Morocco.
