Senegal appoint Patrick Vieira with 2027 Africa Cup of Nations campaign ahead

Paris Saint-Germain legend and 1998 World Cup winner Patrick Vieira has been officially appointed Senegal manager after negotiations over his salary and the structure of his coaching staff.

Vieira’s appointment was confirmed on Tuesday, with the 50-year-old taking charge of the Lions of Teranga for the first time in his managerial career at international level. However, the former Genoa coach had to lower his initial financial demands before reaching an agreement with the Senegalese authorities.

According to investigative journalist Khadim Diakhate, Vieira initially sought a monthly salary of €100,000. That figure would have been more than twice the amount paid to his predecessor, Pape Thiaw.

Thiaw’s salary was also reportedly left unpaid from March until his dismissal in mid-July. Vieira’s opening demand was considered too high by the Senegalese state, which is responsible for paying the wages of the national team’s managers.

The government subsequently imposed a monthly limit of 30 million CFA francs, equivalent to €45,734.70. That was the same level of pay received by Thiaw.

After further discussions, the two sides reached a compromise believed to be worth about 35 million CFA francs per month, or approximately €53,357.15.

The make-up of Vieira’s backroom team was another subject of negotiation. Abdoulaye Fall, president of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), initially wanted to give Vieira complete freedom to select his staff.

That position was rejected by the federation’s executive committee, which had initially been firmly opposed to the appointment of the Franco-Senegalese coach.

Vieira will begin his tenure during the next international window, scheduled to run from 21 September to 6 October. Senegal will use that period to start their qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The tournament is due to take place from 19 June to 18 July 2027 in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Vieira, who won the World Cup with France in 1998, returns to management after a coaching career that has included spells at New York City FC, Nice, Crystal Palace and Genoa. His appointment marks a new phase for Senegal following Thiaw’s departure in mid-July.

The immediate focus will be on preparing the Lions of Teranga for their opening fixtures in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, while Vieira’s authority over the national-team set-up will be watched closely after the discussions surrounding his appointment.

The agreement means Senegal have secured a high-profile manager, but only after both the proposed salary and the initial plans for his coaching staff were revised.