Senegal: Ismail Jakobs retires, Patrick Vieira deeply affected

The Lions coach makes a confession

Africa Today at 12:32

Add Foot Africa on Google

Senegal: Ismail Jakobs retires, Patrick Vieira deeply affected

Speaking to the press on Thursday as he announced his squad to face Sudan, Senegal coach Patrick Vieira reflected on Ismail Jakobs’ surprise international retirement.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Patrick Vieira reflected on Ismail Jakobs’ decision. The coach said he was understandably disappointed. The Lions of Teranga coach made no secret of his incomprehension. He revealed the circumstances of his last conversation with the Galatasaray defender.

Retirement accepted with bitterness

Although Jakobs officially announced his international retirement on October 29, Patrick Vieira had been counting on him for this squad. “When he received the call-up, he called me a few days later to tell me that he wanted to end his international career. I accepted it with a little bitterness, let’s say, because I think he is at the peak of his career. I think it’s always a shame when a player of that age who plays for a big club ends his international career. But it was his choice, and I have to accept it. It’s true that, personally, it’s difficult to understand. But it’s his choice, and I have no other way of handling it,” the coach explained.

Merci d’avoir défendu les couleurs du Sénégal et d’avoir fait partie de cette grande famille des Lions, Ismaïl Jakobs. Bonne chance pour la suite de ta carrière, Ismaïl. https://t.co/Snw8BccPWy
— Equipe du Sénégal (@GaindeYi) October 29, 2026

Twists and turns fuel speculation

Patrick Vieira’s explanation comes after several weeks of twists and turns. In September, reports said Ismail Jakobs was considering retirement, before Vieira sought to reassure fans about his future.

On October 15, on RTS, the coach had even suggested that the difficulties had been overcome, raising the prospect of the full-back returning as early as November.

However, two weeks later, Jakobs officially announced his retirement. At 27 and after 33 caps, Jakobs chose to prioritise “his club and his family” after seeing El Hadji Malick Diouf move ahead of him and a World Cup marred by organisational problems.

This article follows our newsroom’s editorial standards. To learn more about how we create and fact-check our content, see our Editorial Policy .

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.