Senegal players stuck in United States after their officials failed to book them flights after FIFA World Cup exit

Senegal players and coaching staff are reportedly standed in the United States after a charter flight to bring them home after their 2026 FIFA World Cup exit got cancelled.

The cancellation of the charter flight – as per multiple reports – was linked to disagreements between the Senegalese Ministry of Sports and the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) amid administrative and financial tensions, as per Foot Africa.

Nevertheless, the likes of Pape Gueye, Édouard Mendy, Mory Diaw, Ismail Jakobs, Krépin Diatta, Yehvann Diouf, Idrissa Gana Gueye and Kalidou Koulibaly have left the US to join up with their respective clubs or families.

However, other members of the Lions of Terranga’s delegation remain in the United States and are expected to return to Dakar, Senegal, in the next 24 hours.

The beaten 2025 AFCON finalists’ 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign came to end with a 3-2 defeat after extra time to Belgium in Seattle in the Round of 32 on July 1. Pape Thiaw’s side led by two goals with four minutes remaining when Romelu Lukaku reduced arrears before Youri Tielemans struck the equaliser in the 89th minute to force extra time.

Just as penalties loomed, Tielemans scored a 125th-minute penalty to send Sadio Mane and Co. packing out of the competition.

“It hurts” – Senegal boss reflects on 2026 FIFA World Cup elimination against Belgium

Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw bemoaned his team’s inability to defend a two-goal lead against Belgium as they exited the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America in the first knockout round.

With a place in the Round of 16 in touching distance, the Lions of Terranga conceded twice in three minutes as extra time ensued, where Thiaw’s side conceded again,

“We’re out – it hurts,” Thiaw said (as per Flash Score). “We must congratulate the team, who gave it their all, but unfortunately, we weren’t able to hold on to our two-goal lead. Congratulations to the Belgian team, who have gone through. We have to accept this – that’s football.”

“We didn’t manage the 2-0 lead well. Everyone can comment on the penalty; I don’t want to get into that.”

Tielemans’ second of the game was from the spot after a lengthy VAR review as the 2018 semi-finalists grabbed their lifeline to live to fight another day.