Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye has announced say he go step away from international football for now, as long as head coach Pape Thiaw remains in charge of the national team.The decision come shortly after Senegal crash out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in dramatic fashion against Belgium in the Round of 16.

Senegal start the match well, taking a strong 2-0 lead in the first half through goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr, giving fans hope of reaching the quarter-finals.

However, the game turn around sharply as Belgium mount serious comeback, with Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans scoring late goals to level the match and force extra time.The turning point came in the 125th minute when Tielemans converted a penalty awarded after VAR review, sealing a 3-2 victory for Belgium.

After the painful defeat, Gueye took to social media to announce his position, saying he will not play under the current technical crew and will only return to the national team when there is a change in coaching leadership.

His statement has added more pressure on coach Pape Thiaw, whose tactical decisions and substitutions during the match have already been heavily criticised by fans and football analysts.

Thiaw, however, defended himself, explaining say the substitutions were necessary because players were tired and could not continue, insisting it was not a tactical mistake but a fitness issue.

The incident has now sparked wider debate in Senegal football about team management, player welfare, and decision-making at crucial moments in high-stakes matches like the World Cup knockout stages.