New York, July 12 -- Senegal sacked coach Pape Bouna Thiaw on Saturday, citing the team's disappointing FIFA World Cup campaign as the reason for the change.

The Lions of Teranga had entered the tournament with high expectations after defeating Morocco in January's Africa Cup of Nations final and were widely tipped to challenge for the title.

However, their World Cup campaign fell well short of expectations, as per Reuters.

They lost their opening two group-stage matches to France and Norway before suffering a dramatic 3-2 extra-time defeat to Belgium in the round of 32, despite leading 2-0 with just five minutes of normal time remaining.

Thiaw, 45, had been due to begin a five-match suspension in September at the start of Senegal's 2...