Senegal coach Pape Thiaw shifts focus to 2026 World Cup opener against France after USA defeat

Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw has praised the United States of America following the sides 3-2 defeat in an international friendly, admitting that the Americans posed significant challenges for the Lions of Teranga.

The West African giants suffered a narrow loss to the United States in Charlotte on Sunday, as part of their preparations for upcoming international assignments.

Reflecting on the encounter, Thiaw acknowledged the quality of the American team and credited them for the intensity and pressure they applied throughout the match.

The Senegalese tactician noted that the friendly provided another valuable opportunity for his players to continue their preparations, despite the disappointing result.

According to Thiaw, the match exposed areas that require improvement as Senegal continue to fine-tune their performances ahead of a demanding schedule in the coming weeks.

“The American team put us under pressure; we must congratulate them,” Thiaw said after the game.

The coach stressed that his focus remains firmly on the next stage of Senegal’s preparations, with the team now turning its attention to a crucial fixture against France on June 16.

“As for us, we have continued our preparations. We have a very busy week ahead of us as we continue our work ahead of the June 16 match against France,” he added.

Despite the setback, the Lions of Teranga will view the encounter as an important test against quality opposition as they seek to build momentum and sharpen their tactical approach.

Thiaw and his technical staff are expected to use the lessons learned from the defeat to make necessary adjustments before Senegal face another stern challenge against France later this month.