Pape Thiaw received by Rwanda football federation

Pape Thiaw has appeared in public outside Senegal for the first time since the national team’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup, with his next move still undecided. The former Senegal coach was received by the Rwanda Football Federation during a visit linked to the SportsBiz Africa Forum.

Thiaw is in Rwanda for the 2026 edition of the annual event, which is based mainly in Kigali. The forum was launched in 2024 and focuses on the development of Africa’s sports economy, in partnership with the African Union Sports Council and Rwanda’s Ministry of Sports.

He also visited Rwanda’s under-20 team, which is currently in camp. The trip gives Thiaw a public football engagement away from Senegal after a period out of view. His record includes winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal and the African Nations Championship with the local national team, achievements that have made him a prominent figure in discussions about African coaching and locally developed talent.

The forum is examining leadership, pressure, accountability and the structures needed to build a more competitive African sports sector. Thiaw’s experience as both an international player and a title-winning coach is part of that conversation, while his own future remains open after Senegal’s World Cup exit.