Moussa Niakhaté pays tribute to Pape Thiaw and welcomes Patrick Vieira as new Senegal coach

Senegal international defender Moussa Niakhaté has paid tribute to former Lions of Teranga head coach Pape Thiaw while welcoming newly appointed manager Patrick Vieira to the national team.

The Senegalese Football Federation officially confirmed Vieira as the new head coach on Tuesday, August 18, bringing an end to Thiaw’s time in charge of the national team following Senegal’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.

As Senegal prepares to begin a new chapter under the former France international, Niakhaté took time to acknowledge the contribution made by Thiaw during his tenure.

In a message shared on social media, the Senegalese defender praised Thiaw for accepting the responsibility of leading the national team at a difficult moment and highlighted the major achievement secured under his leadership.

According to Niakhaté, Thiaw deserves recognition for the work he carried out with the Lions of Teranga, particularly after guiding the team to Africa Cup of Nations success.

“A tribute to Pape Thiaw, who took charge of the Senegal national team under difficult circumstances. Under his leadership, we won the Africa Cup of Nations. So, a tribute to him,” Niakhaté said.

Thiaw had been handed the responsibility of guiding Senegal during a challenging period and subsequently helped the team maintain its status among Africa’s leading football nations.

For Niakhaté, the former coach’s contribution should therefore not be overlooked despite his departure from the national team.

With Thiaw now gone, attention has shifted towards Vieira and the task that awaits the former Arsenal and France midfielder.

Vieira takes charge with Senegal possessing a talented squad and high expectations, with the new coach expected to build on the foundations established by his predecessor while bringing his own ideas and approach to the team.

Niakhaté also welcomed Vieira to the Lions of Teranga setup, signalling his readiness to work under the new coach.

“Welcome to Patrick Vieira,” he added.

The message from Niakhaté reflects both respect for Thiaw’s contribution and optimism surrounding the beginning of Vieira’s tenure as Senegal look to enter a new era.