Senegal boss under 'growing pressure' after Iliman Ndiaye World Cup 'misunderstanding'
Everton star Iliman Ndiaye's treatment at the World Cup could land Senegal boss Pape Thiaw in hot water.
The Toffees man did not feature in the 3-2 loss against Norway on Tuesday morning.
The 26-year-old remained on the bench, despite playing just seven minutes in the opener against France.
If he is injured, nothing has been revealed by official sources, which would be peculiar.
It would help Thiaw's case if he revealed an issue and explained that was why the Blues ace is not getting game time.
Many observers have been baffled by the lack of action for the Hill Dickinson Stadium star, and the question has been raised over the manager's future.
Why Iliman Ndiaye situation puts Pape Thiaw under pressure
Thiaw's future in the dugout may be in doubt after the way that he has utilised Ndiaye.
A report from SeneNews on Tuesday raised questions over the motivations for not selecting the Everton man.
It claimed that the misunderstanding over Ndiaye's involvement has led to growing pressure on the manager's choices.
They said: "Seven minutes accumulated in two games. This is the figure that crystallizes criticism and fuels a growing misunderstanding among some observers. How can we explain that a player presented as the main creator of the team for several years, a regular starter in major competition, and author of a convincing season with Everton, has been so little used in a competition of this magnitude?
"In the swelling discussions, some of the supporters and analysts wonder about the choices of the technical staff. One of them summarises a widely shared misunderstanding: how can a player identified as essential to offensive construction be ruled out to this point, without a clear explanation of a possible injury, a physical problem or an assumed tactical choice? The hypothesis of a passage through the medical staff or a non-optimal physical condition circulates, without official confirmation.
"This misunderstanding is part of a context of growing pressure around the coach's choices, already questioned after the first outings against high-level opponents. The debate now goes beyond the simple management of a player to question the overall coherence of the game project."
Why Everton will be happy about Ndiaye's lack of minutes
David Moyes may well be loving what has happened with Ndiaye for two reasons.
For starters, there is less chance of his star player getting injured, so he should be fresher for the start of the campaign.
Secondly, there is less chance that he can put himself in the shop window and show how good he can be to possible suitors.
The likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea have previously shown interest in the L3 star, but none have progressed on it so far.
They may have been hoping that Ndiaye had a good display at the tournament, so they could justify a big splash for his services.
The misunderstanding could leave the Toffees in a better situation when it comes to a potential exit.
The African Cup of Nations winner is under contract until 2029, so Moyes' side have control over the situation, anyway, but the developments may help keep Ndiaye on Merseyside.
It remains to be seen whether he pushes for an exit, he has spoken of his desire to play Champions League football, but every player dreams of playing at the highest level.