Pape Thiaw reflects on Senegal’s goalless draw with Saudi Arabia

Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw has said his side’s 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia in San Antonio highlights both attacking shortcomings and encouraging defensive stability as preparations continue for the 2026 World Cup.

The result on Tuesday came as part of Senegal’s ongoing build-up to the tournament, with Thiaw stressing that the team remains in a development phase.

Rather than focusing on the scoreline, the coach reflected on the broader learning process across recent fixtures, including a difficult encounter against the United States.

He pointed to that earlier match as a key reference point in assessing progress, noting the level of difficulty his players faced. “We are in the midst of our preparations.

The match against the United States was very difficult, and we had to face a team that caused us a lot of problems,” he explained.

Against Saudi Arabia, Senegal were again unable to find a breakthrough in attack, with missed opportunities and turnovers limiting their ability to convert possession into goals.

Despite this, Thiaw underlined the positives in his team’s defensive organisation, which ensured they kept a clean sheet throughout the contest.

“We weren’t efficient in front of goal, but we didn’t concede a goal. That’s a positive point,” he declared.

The Senegalese coach used the draw to reinforce the idea that his squad is still evolving ahead of the World Cup, with emphasis placed on balance between defensive discipline and attacking sharpness.

While the lack of cutting edge in the final third remains an area of concern, the ability to avoid conceding was viewed internally as a step in the right direction.

Attention now turns to Senegal’s next challenge, with Thiaw already shifting focus towards their opening World Cup match against France on June 16. He acknowledged the scale of the task ahead but insisted his side will approach the fixture with belief and preparation.

“We are going to face the best team in the FIFA rankings, with impressive strengths. But we also have our qualities and we will do everything to be ready,” assured the Lions’ coach.

As preparations continue, Senegal’s coaching staff are expected to use the remaining time to refine attacking combinations while maintaining the defensive structure that has shown signs of stability in recent matches.