‘Our Lions fell tonight. The adventure ends here. The lessons of this World Cup will fuel the journey ahead,’ Faye stated.
On Thursday, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye expressed his support for the national team after their elimination in the Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup, where they lost 3-2 to Belgium.
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“Our Lions fell tonight. The adventure ends here. The lessons of this World Cup will fuel the journey ahead,” Faye wrote on social media. Meanwhile, Coach Pape Thiaw defended his second-half substitutions, explaining that several players asked to be substituted due to fatigue, rather than tactical decisions.
Senegal held a 2-0 lead in the final minutes thanks to goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr. Still, Belgium rallied with goals from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans, who scored the decisive penalty in extra time.
However, the Senegalese press reacted harshly: Le Soleil called it a “complete disaster,” Yoor Yoor a “tactical shipwreck,” and EnQuête questioned whether the Federation should dismiss the coach.
The scenario we witnessed today in the Belgium vs. Senegal game is literally a one-in-a-million occurrence!
Senegal completely outplayed Belgium in every aspect—possession, transitions, chance creation, expected goals—you name it. They went 2–0 up and stayed in control until the… pic.twitter.com/XScOVobiGS
— Appie Culé (@appiecule) July 1, 2026
Players like Pape Gueye and Krepin Diatta also expressed their disappointment. Gueye announced he would take a break from the national team as long as the current coaching staff remains in place, while Diatta stated that “the people don’t deserve this.”
Senegal reached the round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams after losing to France and Norway and thrashing Iraq in the group stage.
The message from Faye, elected president in March 2024, reflects his commitment to sport as a national symbol, and the elimination opens a new chapter in the relationship between politics and football.
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Source: EFE
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