![Patrick Vieira. [NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP]](/cdn-cgi/image/onerror=redirect,width=640,height=640,format=webp/https://storage.googleapis.com/uploads.mongoosehq.com/url/media/167621489/d6b2d0aac07c79ee24e98f54f1f3ae9b83a93f3db875ab6c136a8027629ce60c)
Overview
- The Fédération sénégalaise de football announced Patrick Vieira's appointment on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, and said the date for his official presentation will be communicated later.
- Vieira, born in Dakar and a World Cup winner with France, takes over from Pape Thiaw, who was dismissed in July after a breakdown in confidence with the FSF and disputes over his salary.
- The FSF described the choice as a strategic move to rebuild the Lions of Teranga after their round-of-16 exit to Belgium at the 2026 World Cup and to professionalise the team's coaching setup.
- Vieira's managerial record is mixed: he has coached New York City FC, Nice, Crystal Palace, Strasbourg and Genoa and has been without a club since leaving Genoa in November 2025, raising questions about how quickly he can deliver results.
- He inherits unresolved institutional problems, including a pending appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the overturned Africa Cup of Nations final and heightened public scrutiny that will measure success by quick sporting improvement and stability.