Senegal U17 coach Faye criticises federation after departure

Pape Ibrahima Faye has announced that he is no longer in charge of Senegal’s Under-17 national team, revealing his departure publicly while also criticising the lack of communication from the Senegalese Football Federation.

The coach, who has led the Senegal U17 national football team for the past two years, said he was not formally informed of his dismissal and only learned of it through media reports.

His comments come as uncertainty continues over several national team coaching positions in Senegal.

Faye’s tenure saw the young side reach the latter stages of major youth competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA U17 World Cup.

However, the team fell short of matching the success of his predecessor, Serigne Saliou Dia, who guided Senegal to the 2023 U17 Africa Cup of Nations title.

Speaking during an interview with Galaxy TV on the sidelines of a domestic cup match between Teungueth FC and Diambars, Faye confirmed his departure.

“As you know, I was on the bench for the U17 national team during the last Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup. But currently, I can say that I am no longer the coach of the U17 national team ,”

He also expressed frustration at the lack of direct communication from the federation regarding his status and future planning for upcoming tournaments.

“I read on social media and in the press, like everyone else, that I’d been fired from the national team. But nobody told me anything. Nothing was said either regarding preparations for the next Africa Cup of Nations (May 13 to June 2, 2026 in Morocco). So, you could say I’m no longer the coach ,” adds Pape Ibrahima Faye.

His remarks highlight wider concerns about organisational clarity within the federation, with several national team setups reportedly operating without confirmed leadership ahead of major competitions.

Attention has now turned to his successor, with the Senegalese Football Federation expected to appoint former international captain Lamine Sané as the new U17 coach.

The 39-year-old, who earned 28 caps for Senegal and played for clubs including Bordeaux, Werder Bremen and Orlando City, has already been involved in the national team structure in a supporting role.

Sané’s familiarity with the youth system is seen as an advantage as preparations begin for the next Africa Cup of Nations at U17 level.