Boureima Amadou
Pape Gueye is not prepared to part with his winner’s medal. Although Sénégal triumphed 1-0 on the pitch against Maroc on January 18, the team was officially stripped of their title in March following a ruling regarding the Coupe d’Afrique des Nations 2025. In a recent conversation with the media, the Villarreal midfielder and former OM player insisted that he still views himself as a champion.
“We are the champions of Afrique, plain and simple,” the player declared. He argued that their victory was achieved through sport and seen by everyone. He referenced the late-game drama and the temporary suspension of play, noting that when a penalty was awarded to the opposition, the Maroc players were focused on taking it rather than stopping the match. “The medals are staying in our possession,” he confirmed.
The controversy stems from the closing stages of the final, where a Sénégal goal was overturned just before a penalty was granted to Maroc. This sequence led the Lions de la Teranga to briefly walk off the field. Upon their return, Brahim Diaz missed the spot-kick with a panenka attempt.
Sénégal brings the dispute to CAS
It was Pape Gueye who eventually secured the win with a goal during extra time. While his teammate Idrissa Gueye had previously suggested he might return his medal to calm the situation, Pape clarified that those comments were purely sarcastic. According to him, the entire world is aware that Sénégal earned the trophy on the field.
In late March, the Sénégal national team even displayed the trophy to fans during a friendly match held at the Stade de France. Following the decision by the Confédération Africaine de Football to revoke the title, the Sénégal Football Federation took the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
As of now, the CAS has not established a specific date for its final judgment. Once the court delivers its verdict, the long-standing dispute will reach its conclusion, as neither side will have further legal avenues to challenge the result.
Mariama Hamani
