Patrick Vieira appointed Senegal head coach with AFCON qualifiers looming

What the report says

Patrick Vieira has been appointed head coach of Senegal’s men’s national football team, Al Jazeera reported on 18 August 2026, replacing Pape Thiaw. The former France, Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder was born in Dakar but played internationally for France, including as a member of the 1998 World Cup-winning squad. Senegal’s football federation described the move as a strategic step toward building a stronger technical setup for the country’s sporting goals.

According to the report, Thiaw’s tenure ended after Senegal’s round-of-32 exit at the 2026 World Cup and the wider criticism that followed. The article also noted a separate dispute involving Senegal’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title, which the team says it is still challenging through an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after CAF awarded the trophy to Morocco following an on-field walk-off by Senegal players and staff.

Vieira, 50, brings a varied coaching background, having worked in Major League Soccer, France, England and Italy. His previous clubs included New York City FC, Nice, Crystal Palace, Strasbourg and Genoa. Al Jazeera said the federation has not yet announced the official presentation date or the next steps in his installation.

The appointment comes with Senegal’s next competitive fixtures approaching in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, expected during the September-October 2026 international window. CAF has not yet published the full qualifying schedule, but Senegal are already placed in a group with Mozambique, Sudan and Ethiopia.