Defeated by Belgium and eliminated from the 2026 World Cup through the back door, Senegal was expecting explanations from its head coach. Pape Thiaw instead chose to make himself even smaller than the door through which his team exited the tournament. His attitude stands in stark contrast to the hysterical behavior he displayed in Rabat during the last AFCON final against Morocco.
Senegal’s crushing elimination at the hands of the Belgian Red Devils, sealed by a decisive penalty, will remain one of the most memorable moments of the 2026 World Cup.
The Senegalese were leading 2-0 until the 86th minute, when Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku, who had come on as a substitute, pulled one back. Three minutes later, Youri Tielemans equalized in the 89th minute. In the dying moments of the second period of extra time, Belgium’s remarkable comeback was completed by a penalty awarded after a VAR review and converted by Tielemans in the 125th minute.
The scenario was reminiscent of the Morocco-Senegal final played in Rabat on January 18. Except that the Senegalese reaction, beginning with that of their coach, was completely different.
Asked during the post-match press conference about the refereeing decision that led to the Teranga Lions’ downfall, Pape Thiaw made himself very small. No anger, no outrage, no dramatic display as had been the case in Morocco, where the Senegalese coach had even instructed his players to leave the pitch in protest after a penalty had been awarded to the Atlas Lions.
On American soil, he merely muttered, avoiding any confrontation: "When the referee awarded the penalty, from what we saw, well, our interpretation was that it wasn't a penalty. The players tried to protest, which is their right, but they still respected the referee's decision, and the penalty was taken. That penalty eliminated us. Today, I have no comment on that. I prefer not to interpret it because penalties are sometimes open to different interpretations. The referee judged that it was a penalty. Some say it wasn't, but I prefer not to comment on or interpret the referee's decision. Now we must congratulate Belgium for going through."
The contrast is striking. In the United States, refereeing decisions are treated as sacrosanct. In Rabat, Pape Thiaw not only criticized them but also refused to accept them, resorting to outright disorder.
Two matches, two penalties, two different narratives, two sets of standards—but above all, two humiliations for a coach whom many Senegalese now regard as the worst in the history of their national team.
Incidentally, Belgium coach Rudi Garcia gave him a basic lesson, both on the pitch and in the press room: "Football is about emotions, and it's never over until the final whistle. You must always believe. You must also always believe in your own abilities."
Perhaps that is where the difference lies. Belgium kept believing in the magic of football. Pape Thiaw's team, meanwhile, ultimately learned that while their 'Pope' might get away with bending the rules of CAF in Africa, he was incapable of producing another false miracle when faced with FIFA.
