On the eve of the tournament, Thiaw said that if his belief in Senegal’s ability to win the World Cup wavered even briefly, he would resign.
A veteran of Senegal’s 2002 World Cup squad, Thiaw led the team to January’s controversial Africa Cup of Nations final.
Behind the scenes, however, his relationship with the federation has been more strained than it appears.
When he took over in 2024, he accepted an annual salary of about £210,000.
But the 2025 Afcon run—and the fact his deal expired immediately after the tournament—gave him far greater leverage heading into extension talks.
Negotiations over a new contract then dragged on.
In Senegal, the coach’s agreement is negotiated with the federation, but both the signing and the funding must be approved by the state through the sports and finance ministries.
After months of delays, Thiaw had to travel to the United States without a signed extension.
This came amid broader political turmoil, with the government dismissed and the prime minister removed from office.
Inevitably, that instability spilled over into other sectors.
As people close to Thiaw amped up media pressure—hinting he might refuse to board the plane—President Bassirou Diomaye Faye personally intervened.
He contacted Thiaw directly and promised to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
Once the new sports minister, Djireye Clotilde Coly, took office, she flew to the US for the opener against France, met the squad, and reaffirmed those assurances to Thiaw.
Talks then progressed, resulting in an agreement worth £480,000 per year plus an annual £80,000 bonus.
On Sunday, Thiaw acknowledged the process took too long, saying it was about principles and respect rather than money, and that the matter had been settled.
He added that for Senegalese people, patriotism comes first, and the contract issue is now in the past—the deal is signed.