Pape Gueye has announced that he is taking a break from international football, expressing his frustration after the dramatic situation in Senegal. FIFA World Cup out against Belgium. The midfielder’s decision raised questions about possible tensions in the Senegal camp after one of the most heartbreaking defeats of the tournament.Senegal looked set to qualify for the Round of 16 after building a two-goal lead against Belgium in the 51st minute in Seattle. However, the game changed dramatically in the closing stages, with Romelu Lukaku scoring in the 86th minute, before Youri Tielemans equalized three minutes later to force extra time. The decisive moment came after a VAR review awarded Belgium a penalty for a foul on Lamine Camara, with Tielemans converting from the spot in the 124th minute and 44th second – the last winning goal ever scored in FIFA World Cup history.Following the heartbreaking defeat, Gueye took to Instagram to announce his decision to step away from the national team while the current coaching staff remains in charge. He wrote: “I will come later to talk about the elimination. But, now, I announce that, as long as this technical staff remains in charge, I will take a break from the National Team.”Gueye, who was replaced after an hour by coach Pape Thiaw, had been one of the protagonists of Senegal in the tournament. The Villarreal midfielder scored three goals and provided an assist during the campaign, including a Man of the Match performance against Iraq.Despite their painful elimination, Senegal still created history by becoming the first African nation to score 10 goals in a single edition of the FIFA World Cup, highlighting the team’s impressive attacking performances throughout the tournament.
