Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye has maintained that Senegal still see themselves as Africa’s true champions despite the controversy surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
Senegal had beaten Morocco 1-0 after extra time to lift the AFCON trophy, but the result later became disputed after several Senegalese players walked off the pitch following a late penalty awarded to Morocco.
CAF’s appeals board ruled in March that Senegal violated tournament regulations by leaving the field without the referee’s approval, leading to the title being handed to Morocco.
Senegal’s football federation has since taken the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Reacting to the development, Ndiaye said the ruling had not changed the team’s belief about their achievement.
“Obviously, in our eyes and many other people’s eyes, we are the champions of Africa.
“Whatever their decisions will be, it doesn’t disturb us,” he told BBC World Service.
The Senegal international said the team’s attention is now fixed on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, stressing that the AFCON controversy would not affect their ambitions.
“The same focus and hunger and determination that we had going into the AFCON, we’re going to do the same going into the World Cup.
“It’s another trophy on the line and nothing’s going to distract us,” he said.
Ndiaye also revisited the tense moments during the final in Rabat, where Senegal reacted angrily after a goal was chalked off before Morocco received a stoppage-time penalty.
“It was just a bit of unfairness that happened for us.
“That’s what we thought on the pitch with the goal being disallowed and then the penalty, which we don’t think was a penalty, in the space of a short time.”
“Emotions were really high and you do things straight away,” he added.
The 26-year-old admitted the incident and CAF’s ruling had cast African football in a poor light.
“It wasn’t a great look so I just hope they put it right,” Ndiaye added.
Senegal will face France, Norway and Iraq in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, set to take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
