[Des faits et des chiffres] Pape Thiaw: from Niarry Tally to the top of national football

Less than a month after the end of his interim leadership of the Senegal national team, Pape Thiaw was officially chosen this Friday, December 13, as coach of the Lions. Its missions: the CAN 2025 final and qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

Pape Thiaw was born on February 5, 1981. Initially a professional player in several clubs, and for the Senegalese selection, he notably participated in the CAN and the 2002 World Cup. In January 2008, he terminated his contract with the Deportivo Alavés and signed up for a period of 6 months at US Créteil, in National2.

Arriving at Niarry Tally Biscuiterie (first division, Senegalese) in December 2018 as coach, he was sacked on February 8, 2021 for insufficient results. He is replaced by Abdoulaye Guèye who was responsible for the youth categories at the club. Pape Thiaw was appointed coach of the Senegal national football team on December 13, 2024.

The choice of Pape Thiaw is undoubtedly the least surprising. The 43-year-old technician is the one who knows the Lair best among the contenders. He joined the Lions staff during Can-2023 in Ivory Coast in January. A few months later (September), he was promoted to Aliou Cissé’s deputy before taking his place as an interim manager a few weeks later.

Pape has benefited from the support of the Federation since his arrival at the head of the local selection in 2022. He has deserved this support and this confidence thanks to his results. When he was coach of the local national team, the former Senegalese international achieved the feat of building a competitive group in a few months and leading it to final victory during the Chan 2021 played in 2022. was a first continental coronation in this category, while Senegal had gone several years without participating in the African Nations Championship. This course gives credit to Pape Thiaw.

5 key figures from Pape Thiaw’s career in pictures

He also knows the group, having worked with it during CAN 2024. His maintenance can be seen as a desire for continuity. The criteria established by the Comex relate more to its profile. With a resolutely Senegalese preference, the leaders of national football had reduced to nothing the chances of other expected foreign technicians. Among the Senegalese technicians planned, Pape Thiaw was the one who came closest to the expectations of the FSF in the short term. This is also the reason why the managers will offer a one and a half year contract to the 43-year-old Senegalese technician.

Cheikh Tidiane NDIAYE