Patrick Vieira Appointed as Head Coach of Senegal National Team

The Senegalese Football Federation appointed Patrick Vieira as the new coach of the Senegal national team on Tuesday, August 18. Vieira succeeds Pape Thiaw, who was dismissed on July 12 following a disappointing performance at the 2026 World Cup where the Lions of Teranga were eliminated in the round of 32 after a 2 to 3 after extra time loss to Belgium. This appointment marks the first time the 50 year old former 1998 world champion will coach a national team, following his previous experience managing five clubs across the United States, France, England, and Italy. Vieira had been without a coaching role since November 2025, when he was dismissed by the Italian club Genoa. The federation described the appointment as a strategic choice to provide high level technical leadership aligned with the country's sporting ambitions. Vieira, who was born in Dakar and lived in Senegal until age eight, will lead his first match at home against Mozambique on September 23. This game begins the qualifiers for the next Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for summer 2027 in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. If the team qualifies, Vieira will be tasked with defending the title won by his predecessor.