Pape Thiaw: World Cup 2026 left Senegal with a bitter taste, but Africa is not far off

Senegal’s former coach Pape Thiaw said the team’s 2026 World Cup run left a “bitter taste,” despite showing the talent to contend for the title. Speaking in Kigali at the SportsBiz Africa Forum on Thursday, Thiaw argued Africa is getting closer to producing a World Cup-winning squad, citing narrowing gaps shown by recent tournaments. He pointed to Morocco’s 2022 run to the semifinals as a landmark, but stressed that talent alone won’t be enough. In his view, African football must prioritize investment even without guarantees. Thiaw linked his comments to Senegal’s 3-2 extra-time defeat to Belgium after leading 2-0 in the knockout stage.