Senegal coach Pape Thiaw names Norway as Europe’s best team

Senegalese national team coach Pape Thiaw has raised eyebrows across Europe with his unexpected selection of Norway as the continent’s best team, a decision that has particularly surprised the French media.

The Lions of Teranga are preparing for a friendly against Gambia this Tuesday evening, following a solid 2-0 victory over Peru in another friendly last Saturday.

Thiaw and his squad are focused on fine-tuning their preparations ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled for this summer across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Senegal has been drawn in Group 9 of the tournament, alongside France, Norway, and either Iraq or Bolivia, depending on the outcome of the upcoming playoff.

Norway Over France, Spain, and England

Despite France’s recent impressive performances, including a 2-1 friendly win over Brazil and a 3-1 victory with their second team against Colombia, Thiaw excluded Les Bleus from his calculations. Spain, ranked first in the world, and England, boasting numerous world-class stars, were also overlooked.

Instead, Thiaw singled out Norway as Europe’s top team. “Norwegian football is well-known, especially with so many outstanding players on the international stage today,” he said ahead of the friendly against Gambia.

“For me, they are currently the best team in Europe and are performing brilliantly, despite losing their last match against the Netherlands without stars Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard.”

French Media Reacts

The French newspaper L’Equipe reacted to Thiaw’s statement, noting the remarkable level displayed by the French national team in their victories over Brazil and Colombia.

The outlet commented, however, that despite the French squad’s success, it is clear that Didier Deschamps’ team is not the one that Thiaw fears most in the World Cup.

With this bold opinion, Thiaw has once again shown his willingness to think outside conventional expectations, highlighting Norway’s rising influence in European football and offering a fresh perspective ahead of the global stage.