Naija street dey yarn: Senegal bin don lead Belgium 2-0, but Belgium come turn am 3-2 for World Cup 2026 round of 16. Di match wey happen on Wednesday don make Senegalese press vex well well. Dem dey call am ‘cruel disillusion’ for di way di Lions of Teranga lose.
Di match bin dey sweet for Senegal until di 85th minute. Na there Belgium score two goals quick-quick, equalize for just three minutes. Den for extra time, for di 119th minute, Belgium get penalty and score. Final score: 3-2 for Belgium. Senegal fans and media dey cry.
But di main person wey dey catch fire na coach Pape Thiaw. Many newspapers dey blame am for di changes wey e make. Yoor-Yoor newspaper dey yarn say ‘how di coach gift qualification to Belgium.’ Dem talk say ‘di dagger for di 120th minute get Pape Thiaw signature.’ Dem call am ‘historic shipwreck’ wey di coach cause with im ‘catastrophic tactical management.’
One big mistake na di substitution of Pape Gueye for Lamine Camara for di 66th minute. Dis Lamine Camara, wey play for AS Monaco, get yellow card one minute after e enter. Den e commit di foul wey lead to Belgium penalty. Pape Gueye, wey dem replace, don even announce say e go stop international career for protest against di staff.
Le Soleil newspaper say ‘di choices of Pape Thiaw, marked by changes wey deeply unbalance di team, weigh heavy for dis elimination.’ L’OBS use big letters for dia front page: ‘Pape, ciao!’ Gaoussou Dramé, wey be ex-coach for Cneps de Thiès, talk say ‘e no get place again for head of dis team.’
Libération Sénégal online write ‘simply cruel’ with photo of Pape Thiaw, and talk about ‘disastrous and dramatic choices.’ Walf Quotidien say ‘di technical fault of Pape Thiaw.’ EnQuête ask ‘must we fire Pape Thiaw?’ Rewmi Sports say ‘Pape Thiaw scuttle Senegal.’ Wiwsport say ‘Pape Thiaw, ultimate losing coaching.’
Wiwsport develop di matter: ‘If for dis 3-2 defeat di scenario bin terrible for di teammates of Sadio Mané (wey bin lead 2-0 five minutes from end of regular time), e no remove di immense responsibility of di coach for dis fiasco.’ SeneNews say ‘Senegal go only blame itself.’ Dem point finger at goalkeeper for bad save on second goal, and Lamine Camara, but dem still say ‘di first responsible na di coach Pape Thiaw.’
SeneNews talk say ‘di face of Senegal change radically after di replacements. For di other side, di players wey enter change di match, while Senegal substitutes no bring control, freshness, or impact.’
Pape Thiaw don defend im choices. E say ‘we bin dey forced to make changes because some players bin get physical problems, dem dey tired, no fit continue.’ Habib Diarra, wey dem replace for di 73rd minute, no want yarn. E say ‘when we dey for field, we must sacrifice. Na wetin we no do for field. We fit only blame ourselves.’
