Senegal will face France in their first match of Group I at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey on 16/6. Ahead of this anticipated rematch, coach Pape Thiaw expressed great confidence, though he acknowledged the opponent is highly rated. "France are title contenders, they have world-class players. But so do we", Thiaw said in the pre-match press conference. "If Senegal beats France, it won't be a surprise".

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw during a friendly match against Brazil at Emirates Stadium in London, England on 15/11/2024. *Reuters*.

The 44-year-old coach stated that Senegal has maintained its leading position in African football for many years. The team has qualified for three consecutive World Cups and regularly reached the final rounds of the Africa Cup of Nations. "This is the World Cup, every team deserves to be here, and every match is difficult, but we are here to compete", he added.

The match against France also holds special significance for Thiaw. At the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, he was a Senegal player and an unused substitute in their historic 1-0 victory over defending champions France on opening day.

That victory became a major upset in World Cup history. Senegal then advanced all the way to the quarterfinals in their debut appearance, while France was eliminated in the group stage without scoring a single goal.

24 years later, Thiaw faces France again in a World Cup opener, but this time as head coach. "Tomorrow will be a very special feeling. In 2002, I was also on the bench because I couldn't play", he said. "Tomorrow I will still be there, but this time I am holding the keys to the team".

The Senegal coach believes the gap between African football and traditional powerhouses has narrowed significantly. He cited results from this year's World Cup, such as Cape Verde drawing with Spain or Morocco holding Brazil.

"For the media, those might be surprises. But for me, they are not", Thiaw said. "African football has changed a lot in recent years. We saw Morocco reach the World Cup semifinals four years ago. The level of African teams is much higher now".

Senegal enters the tournament amid ongoing controversy regarding their African championship title being revoked earlier this year. However, Thiaw declined to comment extensively on the matter, wanting to focus entirely on the World Cup 2026. "We are the African champions, and that story is behind us. The whole team is only focused on the World Cup and tomorrow's match", he stated.

During the press conference, Thiaw also repeatedly avoided politically charged questions. Before the World Cup, several videos circulated on social media showing Senegal players undergoing security checks at a US airport. Additionally, international media reported that many Senegal fans were denied entry visas to the US due to travel restrictions.

Nevertheless, the Senegal coach believes his team will still receive significant support in the stands at MetLife Stadium. "Of course, we want to have all our fans by our side. Everyone understands how important they are to the team", he said. "But there is a very large Senegalese community in the US. Senegalese people are always full of national pride. You will see that tomorrow".

Thiaw also confirmed that all players are in good physical condition before the opening match. After facing France, Senegal will then play Norway and Iraq in the remaining matches of Group I.

Hoang An (according to Le Parisien, Reuters)