Pape Thiaw could be back in management sooner than expected, with MC Alger considering the former Senegal coach as a potential replacement for Khaled Ben Yahia.
Thiaw has been without a club since his turbulent departure from the Senegal national team, but his name is now being discussed in North Africa. According to WinWin, MC Alger are looking at the 45-year-old as uncertainty grows over the future of Ben Yahia.
The Algerian club are experiencing a period of significant tension despite their high ambitions. Ben Yahia, the Tunisian coach, is reported to have grown frustrated by the pressure surrounding the team and is believed to have decided to leave his position.
A meeting between Ben Yahia and the MC Alger board is due to take place on Sunday to discuss the terms of his departure, according to WinWin.
Ben Yahia’s position has come under increasing scrutiny despite MC Alger recovering from a 2-0 defeat to Enugu Rangers by winning 3-0 against the Nigerian side in the second preliminary round of the African Champions League.
The coach returned to the Algerian club in March after Rulani Mokwena’s departure and knows MC Alger well. However, his latest spell could already be coming to an end.
Thiaw is one of the leading candidates being considered by the club’s directors, WinWin reports. Any appointment would represent an unexpected return to club football for the Senegalese coach and a chance to take charge of a team competing in continental competition.
Thiaw was dismissed by Senegal in July, following the Lions’ 3-2 extra-time defeat by Belgium in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup. His departure came despite him guiding Senegal to victory at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and securing qualification for the World Cup.
The split was followed by a financial dispute. In August, Thiaw formally served notice on the Senegalese Football Federation, seeking approximately 647,000 euros in unpaid salaries and bonuses, among other claims.
His name had also been mentioned, though less prominently, in Ghana as a possible successor to Carlos Queiroz. That possibility did not lead to an appointment.
A move to MC Alger would allow Thiaw to return to the daily demands of club management while taking on another continental challenge. However, there have been no reports of advanced negotiations or an agreement with the Senegalese coach at this stage.
The next step will depend on the outcome of Sunday’s discussions between Khaled Ben Yahia and the MC Alger leadership.