Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye said he would no longer be available for national team selection while the current coaching staff remains in place. The African powerhouse were eliminated from the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Wednesday by Belgium.
"I will come back to tell you a few words regarding the elimination but I announce today that, as long as this technical staff remains in place, I'll be taking a break from the national team," the 27-year-old Villarreal star posted on social media. Senegal squandered a two-goal lead against Belgium before losing 3-2 in extra time in the round of 32.
Senegal looked set to progress after Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr put them ahead. Gueye, who scored two goals at the tournament, was replaced shortly after the hour mark, with coach Pape Thiaw sending on Lamine Camara as Senegal sought to protect their advantage.
However, Belgium struck twice in the final four minutes through Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans to send the match into extra time. Belgium then completed the turnaround when captain Tielemans converted a penalty awarded after a VAR review involving Senegal substitute Camara. Belgium still needed to survive a final free kick from just outside their penalty box on the final play of the game, but in the end they advanced to the round of 16 with a 3-2 win.
The Red Devils are next up against the United States back in Seattle on Monday.
Senegal vs Belgium: As it happened
Senegal dominated the first 85 minutes of the match, with the Lions of Teranga mercilessly pressuring Belgium's overwhelmed backline. After Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a diving attempt to thwart an early attempt, Senegal opened the scoring on a rebound by Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra in the 25th minute. Senegal made it 2-0 in the 51st minute on an outstanding goal by Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr, who took a long ball from Moussa Niakhate off his chest, shielded a defender and knocked his shot past a helpless Courtois. Belgium appeared headed for a World Cup exit with little in the way of a threat on Senegal goalie Mory Diaw.
Belgian coach Rudi Garcia brought Napoli striker Romelu Lukaku on at halftime and later subbed off Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne. Garcia urged his players during the second-half hydration break to try to find one goal and then "anything can happen." And it did when Lukaku found the back of the net with an 86th-minute goal. With their World Cup hopes resuscitated, Belgium continued to press.
Tielemans scored his first goal of the game just three minutes later when he fought through a pair of Senegal defenders to head a ball past Diaw, who had ventured out of his goal. Extra time remained scoreless, with Belgium's Dodi Lukebakio sending a solid look over the goal in the 109th minute. That was after the ball had passed by Tielemans, who went down on a tackle by Senegal midfielder Lamine Camara.
Referee Said Martinez was alerted to a VAR review, and several minutes later returned with the decision that a penalty kick had been awarded. Lukaku initially had the ball, before handing it to the Red Devils captain. Tielemans, who had made one of two previous career penalty kicks for the national team, calmly drilled it into the upper right-hand corner for the game-winning goal in the 125th minute.
