Pape Gueye stands by decision to rejoin Senegal after World Cup pause

Senegal faces Comoros in a friendly at Marseille's Stade Vélodrome on Sunday, October 4, 2026, with midfielder Pape Gueye addressing his earlier decision to pause his national team career after the 2026 World Cup. Gueye, who returned following the arrival of coach Patrick Vieira and a new staff, said he stands by his position and is happy to be back, emphasizing the team needs time to rebuild after recent success. The former Marseille player, who spent four years at the club, expressed joy at playing in the stadium again, noting it helped him grow as both a player and person, with family and friends attending.