Pape Gueye breaks silence on Senegal return after temporary retirement

Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye has broken his silence on his return to the national team after temporarily stepping away from the Lions of Teranga following their elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Gueye announced his decision two months ago, stating that he would not continue with Senegal while the previous coaching staff remained in charge. His decision came after Senegal’s World Cup campaign ended and sparked questions about his future with the national team.

With a new coaching staff now in place, however, the midfielder has returned to the squad and is preparing for Senegal’s upcoming international friendly against Comoros.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the game, Gueye was asked about his decision to temporarily retire from international football and the circumstances that led to his absence.

The midfielder chose not to go into extensive detail, insisting that his priority is now to work with the new technical team and contribute to the national side.

“It’s a stance I’ve taken, one I was prepared to stand by, and I’m happy to be here. I’ll do my best to help this team; that’s the most important thing,” Gueye said.

The Senegal international did not completely rule out discussing the issue in greater detail in the future, but made it clear that he does not want the matter to overshadow the team’s current preparations.

“Perhaps there’ll be a chance to talk about it, but that’s not the most important thing today. We’ve got a new coaching staff here; we’re working well and everyone’s listening in training,” he added.

The midfielder will hope to play an important role for the Lions of Teranga as they prepare for their upcoming fixtures, with his experience expected to add strength to the team’s midfield.

For now, Gueye has chosen to put the circumstances surrounding his temporary withdrawal to one side and concentrate on helping Senegal under the new coaching staff.