Pape Thiaw issues Senegal FA with formal demand for unpaid £558,000

Pape Thiaw has formally demanded more than 423.8m CFA francs (£558,000; 647,000 euros) from the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) after being dismissed as national team manager.

The 45-year-old, through his lawyer, sent the FSF a formal notice dated 13 August, instructing the governing body to settle what he says are outstanding salary payments, bonuses and expenses.

The claim covers the period from March to August 2026. Pape Thiaw was officially removed from his position on 11 July, after Senegal’s disappointing campaign at the 2026 World Cup ended in the last 32.

The demand marks the end of attempts to resolve the dispute through negotiations and leaves the FSF facing the prospect of legal action if it does not comply.

Under the terms of the notice, the federation could face proceedings that include a complaint to Fifa and potentially an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Pape Thiaw’s contract was extended during the World Cup, just hours before Senegal played Norway in their second group-stage match. Senegal lost that game 3-2 on 23 June.

The correspondence states that his remuneration had been set at 30m CFA francs per month, equivalent to 45,734.7 euros, “with retroactive effect”.

The total amount sought includes the salary, bonuses and reimbursements which Pape Thiaw says remain unpaid for the five-month period specified in the notice.

The dispute places the FSF under pressure to resolve the matter, with the federation required to respond or risk the former manager escalating the case through football’s legal channels.

The unresolved situation could also affect Senegal’s plans for a new head coach. The complexity of the case is reportedly blocking the possible appointment of Patrick Vieira as Pape Thiaw’s successor.

Pape Thiaw took charge of Senegal before being dismissed in July, but his departure came after the team’s World Cup campaign finished in the last 32. The Senegalese federation must now deal with both the financial claim and the potential consequences for its search for a replacement.

The formal notice represents a significant change in the relationship between the former manager and the FSF. What had previously been handled through discussions between the two sides has now become a legal dispute, with possible involvement from Fifa and the Court of Arbitration for Sport if the federation does not meet the payment demand.