Senegal pushes hard for Robinio Vaz as Pape Thiaw confirms national drive

Senegal national team coach Pape Thiaw confirmed direct talks with the family of Olympique de Marseille forward Robinio Vaz, calling the pursuit of the 18-year-old striker a “national demand” as the country steps up efforts to win the race for his international allegiance.

The teenager, born in Mantes-la-Jolie, France, on 17 February 2007, carries Senegalese and Bissau-Guinean heritage.

His rise through French football, first with FC Sochaux-Montbéliard and now with Marseille, places him among the brightest prospects in Ligue 1.

His progress attracts attention beyond club football, pulling national selectors into competition for one of Europe’s most coveted young forwards.

Thiaw spoke with clarity and intent while addressing the media at a press briefing in Dakar. “I talk with his family,” he said.

“We continue our discussions. This case matters to the country. People ask for it. It’s a national demand.”

The coach spoke with personal investment, not diplomatic distance. His tone emphasized action, involvement and urgency.

He also made it clear that Senegal operates with purpose and not uncertainty. “We do not watch from the outside,” Thiaw continued.

“We take steps. We reach out. We build the path. Now we continue the talks.”

Robinio Vaz brings a profile that Senegal scouts value at a time when the national team rebuilds its attacking depth ahead of upcoming major tournaments.

Standing 1.85m, Vaz combines size, movement, sharp pace and a penalty-box instinct that creates and converts high-pressure moments.

He runs channels with confidence, breaks lines at speed, attacks space without hesitation, and carries a scoring mindset that thrives in tight defensive areas.

Marseille already trusts him in Ligue 1, a level that carries tactical, physical and mental expectations.

The club places weight on development, competition, and readiness.

His minutes, his role, and his trajectory build a case for why nations want him early and with urgency.

Despite Thiaw’s direct approach, three major elements still shape the outcome.

First, sporting nationality rules play a central role. Vaz wore France colours at youth level, which means national eligibility discussions carry structure, timing and procedure.

International switches involve documentation, approvals, agreements and long-term direction, not emotion alone.

Second, the player’s personal direction holds decisive influence. Vaz must align ambition, identity, opportunity and sporting growth to the challenge a national team project offers.

He holds the freedom to choose between France, Senegal and Guinea-Bissau. That freedom places him in control.

Third, negotiations between federation, family and club factor into timing, clarity, commitment and long-term planning. Each pillar needs understanding, alignment and trust.

Thiaw made sure to remove any ambiguity about Senegal’s position. “We want him,” he said. “We speak. We work. We show intent. Now we continue the process with respect.”

He also pointed at the national layer of interest, noting that fans, former players, youth coaches, local pundits, and football communities inside Senegal push the message with one voice.

The excitement stretches beyond typical scouting admiration. It reads like a collective call for generational investment.

“If people speak the same name across the country, it means something,” Thiaw said. “It tells you the vision people share.”

The pursuit signals more than a recruitment drive. It shapes part of Senegal’s next chapter. The team evolves, renovates, and prepares for the years ahead.

Young attacking profiles who carry pace, depth, boldness and balance fit the model Thiaw wants to build.

Still, Senegal cannot move alone in the final stages of this race. The outcome now depends on dialogue, personal choice and timing.

Thiaw closed with respect, realism, and optimism. “We talk. We plan. We wait with belief, not pressure. The next step belongs to him and his family,” he said.

For now, the message from Dakar carries weight: Senegal leads the pursuit, speaks with intent, and holds hope openly.