Patrick Vieira Set for Senegal Unveiling and First Squad Announcement
Patrick Vieira will begin his first job in international management when Senegal unveil the former France midfielder as head coach of the national A team on Friday, with his first squad selection also due to be announced at the presentation.
Vieira’s Senegal appointment at a glance
| Item | Figure or date | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Patrick Vieira, 50 | Replaces Pape Thiaw |
| First fixtures | Later this month | AFCON qualifiers against Mozambique and Ethiopia |
| CAS hearing | October 8 | Senegal’s appeal over the loss of its AFCON title |
An agreement for Vieira’s appointment was reached last month, bringing the Dakar-born coach back to the country of his birth in a prominent role. He left Senegal for Europe when he was eight, built his playing career after starting at Cannes, and went on to win 107 caps for France.
Despite representing France throughout his international career, Vieira has maintained connections with Senegal. In 2003, during his time as a leading Premier League player, he returned to help create a football academy in the country.
Vieira marked his appointment with a message of thanks to the Senegalese Football Federation. He said he was proud to take charge of the Lions of Teranga, thanked the federation for placing its trust in him and said he was eager to meet the players and begin the work ahead.
A squad seeking a reset
The new coach takes over after a difficult period for Senegal. Under Thiaw, the side surrendered a 2-0 late advantage against Belgium in the World Cup round of 32 before losing 3-2 after extra time.
That exit came after further turmoil at the Africa Cup of Nations in January. Senegal had initially been declared winners of the final, but later lost the continental title after walking off during a disorderly match against Morocco. Thiaw was dismissed after the World Cup, with the federation saying the change was made for the good of Senegalese football.
Senegal are contesting the decision to remove the AFCON crown. A closed hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport is set for October 8 in Lausanne, Switzerland, leaving Vieira to begin his reign while the case remains unresolved.
Club experience before international debut
Vieira’s coaching record has been built in club football, including posts at New York City FC, Nice, Crystal Palace and Strasbourg. His latest position was with Genoa, where he left in November 2025 after recording 10 victories from 37 matches.
The immediate priority will be qualification for the next Africa Cup of Nations. Mozambique and Ethiopia await later this month, offering Vieira little time to settle his ideas or restore confidence in a group still recovering from World Cup disappointment and the AFCON controversy.
