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Idrissa Gueye insists Senegal won AFCON on the pitch, questions CAF decision, offers to return medals to Morocco and opposes his federations appeal.
Senegal’s Idrissa Gueye calls players to walk off the ptich during the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco (AP/PTI)
Midfielder Idrissa Gueye said his Senegal team fully deserved to be Africa Cup of Nations champions but added that he was prepared to “hand back the medals” to Morocco if it would help ease tensions between the two countries.
Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 after extra time in the January final in Rabat, but CAF punished them last week for their 15-minute walk-off during the match, overturning the result and awarding a 3-0 win and the title to hosts Morocco.
“I personally commit to collecting the medals and maybe giving them back to Morocco if that can ease tensions between the two countries,” Gueye was quoted as saying to Canal+ on Saturday, after his Everton side’s 3-0 Premier League win over Chelsea.
“It’s just ridiculous… a football match is won on the pitch, that’s what we did in Morocco. We did what we had to do on the pitch, we won that match. We deserve to be African champions. We are the African champions as far as we’re concerned. Titles are won on the pitch, not in offices,” he added.
‘Would Not Appeal’
Gueye, who captained Senegal in the AFCON final in place of the suspended Kalidou Koulibaly, nevertheless disagreed with his federation’s decision to appeal CAF’s ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“If it were up to me, I would have told the federation not to appeal,” he said.
The continent’s showpiece football final on January 18 descended into chaos when Senegal’s players walked off in protest after the hosts were awarded a controversial penalty late in second-half stoppage time.
Play resumed after around 15 minutes of confusion and tension, during which Senegal supporters threw objects and attempted to invade the pitch.
Morocco’s Brahim Diaz missed the penalty, and Senegal went on to win with a goal from Pape Gueye in extra time.
(With inputs from Agencies)
March 22, 2026, 6:18 PM IST
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