Africa Cup of Nations hero Pape Gueye has announced he is stepping away from the Senegal national team indefinitely, declaring he will not return while the current technical staff remain in charge.

The Villarreal midfielder made his decision public in an Instagram story posted only hours after Senegal’s dramatic World Cup elimination against Belgium, a 3-2 extra-time defeat in which the Teranga Lions squandered a 2-0 lead in the closing minutes.

“I will come back to tell you some more words regarding our elimination, but I announce today that as long as this technical staff are in place, I will be taking a break from the national team,” Gueye wrote to his followers, drawing a sharp line between himself and the current setup.

The 27-year-old did not spell out the precise reasons for his rupture with the staff, leaving open whether his frustration is directed primarily at head coach Pape Thiaw or at the broader technical team. However, the timing of his announcement, and his treatment during the Belgium match, have fuelled speculation of a deepening rift.

Recalled to the starting XI after being dropped for the previous win over Iraq, Gueye was substituted in the 66th minute with Senegal leading 2-0, replaced by Lamine Camara. From there, the African champions lost control: Habib Diarra and Ismaïla Sarr had put them in command, but Romelu Lukaku struck late, Youri Tielemans levelled soon after, and then converted a decisive extra-time penalty after being fouled by Camara.

Thiaw later justified the substitution by saying he believed Gueye was tiring. The player flatly rejected that assessment when speaking to reporters in the mixed zone.

“Physically I was good, but the coach has taken his choices, and we have to respect that. You’ll have to ask the coach about why I was subbed, he’s the one who makes those decisions,” Gueye said.

The midfielder, who scored the extra-time winner in Senegal’s contentious AFCON final triumph over Morocco in Rabat, had already endured an uneven tournament, starting the first two group defeats against France and Norway before being dropped for the emphatic victory over Iraq.

His self-imposed exile caps a turbulent campaign marked by reports of unpaid bonuses, a contractual standoff between Thiaw and the federation, and complaints over basic logistics at the team base. Although Thiaw secured a contract extension during the tournament, Senegal’s early exit and Gueye’s public protest are likely to intensify pressure on the federation to reassess the coach’s future and the broader direction of the national team.