Former Senegal head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw has formally demanded 423.82 million CFA francs from the Senegalese Football Federation over unpaid salaries, bonuses and other contractual entitlements, with the dispute potentially heading to court if the matter is not resolved.
The demand was contained in a formal mise en demeure, or legal notice, served on the federation’s president Abdoulaye Fall through Thiaw’s legal representatives.
The document, dated August 13, 2026, gives the federation eight days to respond and settle the outstanding amount before further legal proceedings are considered.
According to the letter, Thiaw signed a 36-month employment contract with the Senegalese Football Federation running from March 1, 2026, to February 28, 2029. The agreement reportedly provides for a monthly net salary of 30 million CFA francs, with the salary payable retroactively from the start of the contract.
However, Thiaw’s lawyers claim that he has received no salary since March 2026, despite the contractual agreement.
The document also states that the former coach did not receive his signing bonus or special bonus and was forced to personally cover expenses incurred during a tour from April 11 to April 19.
According to the demand, an invoice submitted to the federation for those expenses has remained unpaid since May. The total claim of 423,820,300 CFA francs, roughly €646,000, is broken down into several outstanding payments.
The largest component is 180 million CFA francs in unpaid salaries for March to August 2026, calculated at 30 million CFA francs per month for six months.
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Thiaw is also claiming 90 million CFA francs as the outstanding portion of his signing bonus, 30 million CFA francs for the special bonus, and 10.7163 million CFA francs in expenses and advances incurred during the April tour.
The demand further includes 12 million CFA francs in housing allowances and 1.104 million CFA francs described as a fuel allowance, calculated at 920,000 CFA francs per month for six months.
Another significant component is a claim of 100 million CFA francs in bonuses linked to winning the Africa Cup of Nations and qualifying for the FIFA World Cup.
The figures listed in the document add up to the full amount being demanded from the federation.
Thiaw gives federation eight days to respond
Thiaw’s legal representatives warned that the situation could no longer continue and called on the Senegalese federation to settle the debt to avoid judicial proceedings.
The letter states that the formal notice triggers the interest applicable under Senegalese law to contractual debts and requests a response within eight days of receipt.
The demand therefore puts the federation under fresh pressure as the dispute surrounding Thiaw’s contract continues.
The Senegal coach was dismissed after Senegal’s disappointing 2026 World Cup campaign, and the circumstances surrounding his contract and subsequent departure have already generated controversy. Earlier reports indicated that questions had emerged over who would be responsible for the financial obligations arising from his contract.
The latest legal notice, however, focuses specifically on amounts Thiaw’s representatives say had already become due under the employment agreement, including salaries dating back to March.
The claim also comes after Thiaw’s tenure produced considerable success, including Senegal’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations triumph, before the relationship between the coach and the federation deteriorated.
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The federation has eight days to respond to the formal demand. If an agreement is not reached, Thiaw’s representatives have indicated that they are prepared to pursue the matter through the courts, potentially turning the former coach’s contractual dispute with the Senegalese FA into a full legal battle
