According to Sport News Africa, Patrick Vieira will officially take over as head coach of the Senegal national team on September 14, succeeding Pape Thiaw. The former French international, who was born in Dakar, will begin his national team coaching career and lead Senegal through an important phase of squad renewal.

Vieira was rumored to become Senegal's new coach as early as August 18, but at that time only a preliminary agreement was reached between all parties. After nearly a month of waiting, the Senegalese Football Federation will officially confirm his appointment on September 14, with a press conference planned for September 18 in Dakar.

According to Sport News Africa, Vieira has signed a 4-year contract with the Senegalese Football Federation, with the goal of leading the team through the 2030 World Cup. During this period, he will also lead the team in the qualifiers and main tournaments for the 2026 and 2027 Africa Cups of Nations.

Negotiations between the two sides lasted a long time, mainly because the contract needed approval from the Senegalese Ministry of Sports, which is responsible for funding related expenses. However, Vieira's desire to take over Senegal has not wavered since first contact between the two parties.

Vieira, who was born in Dakar, has previously coached teams such as Nice and Crystal Palace, and is also one of the co-founders of the Diambars Football Academy, established in 2000. Becoming head coach of the Senegal national team holds special meaning for him, signifying a return to his roots.

Although the appointment has only now been officially completed, Vieira has already begun work ahead of schedule. He has already contacted several players to prepare for his first international match day. During their discussions, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy informed Vieira of his decision to retire from the national team.

The report suggests that Mendy's departure may only be the beginning of Senegal's squad renewal. The current group of players is gradually reaching the end of a cycle, and other veterans may leave in the medium to short term, so one of Vieira's key tasks is to oversee the team's gradual transition from old to new.

Meanwhile, Vieira has personally finalized the first national team squad since taking office. These players will participate in the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with only the specific announcement time remaining to be determined.

Senegal will first play two consecutive away matches against Mozambique and Ethiopia in this round, followed by a friendly match against Comoros in Marseille. This means that Vieira's first three matches as Senegal coach will not be played at home, and he will only have the opportunity to appear before Senegalese fans as national team coach during the next international match window.

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