Pape Gueye halts Senegal career after World Cup exit

Eliminated in extra time

Your World Cup is over. Senegal 2–3 Belgium, and you fell in the cruelest way, conceding an equaliser in the 85th minute and then a penalty in extra time that finished it (1) (4) (5). Belgium had never before come back from two goals down after the 85th minute in World Cup history. They did it against your team.

Pape Gueye walks away from the national team

Pape Gueye did not wait. Minutes after the elimination, he announced he is stepping away from Senegal while Pape Thiaw's staff remains in charge. "I will come back later to talk about the elimination. But for now, I announce that as long as this coaching staff remains in command, I will take a break from the national team" (1) (7) (10). That is a direct challenge to the coach, not a quiet exit.

Thiaw defends himself, blames the penalty

Pape Thiaw is not backing down. He stood by his controversial selections and questioned the penalty that sent Senegal home (8). Youri Tielemans converted it, and Thiaw made clear he disagreed with the call. No apology tour from the bench.

What Belgium said afterwards

Rudi Garcia, Belgium's coach, told reporters Senegal lost structure trying to protect the 2–0 lead and that the 1–2 goal changed everything. Tielemans spoke about the group's pride and character but also had a heated exchange with Trossard during the match that later required a dressing-room message from Romelu Lukaku (2) (5). Belgium needed all of it to survive your team.

Fan reactions

The mood online is anguish mixed with fury. Senegal fans are calling the defeat one of the cruelest collapses in World Cup memory, and Gueye's ultimatum has split opinion, some backing his stance against Thiaw, others saying the timing is wrong. Read the full thread here.