Pape Gueye Insists Senegal Remain AFCON Champions Despite CAF Decision

Pape Gueye has insisted that Senegal still considers themselves the rightful champions of the Africa Cup of Nations, despite the decision by the Confederation of African Football to strip them of the title.

Speaking in an interview with L’Équipe, the midfielder emphasized that Senegal earned their victory on the pitch and believes that should not be taken away. He pointed out that the final was played to completion in front of a global audience, insisting the outcome reflected what happened during the game.

"Do we feel like champions? Yes, of course, because we are simply the African champions," he said in an interview with L'Equipe. "We managed to win this final on the pitch; the whole world saw it. There were those incidents, the interruption, but the match resumed. When the penalty was awarded, no Moroccan wanted to stop the match; they all wanted to take it.

"So why dwell on the final result? And besides, the medals are ours. Are we going to give back the medals like Idrissa Gueye said? No, no, that was ironic! I told him I wasn't ready to give up my medal! The whole world knows perfectly well that Senegal won the cup."