On the sidelines of Everton’s 3-0 win over Chelsea on Saturday in the Premier League, Senegal captain Idrissa Gueye spoke out regarding CAF’s decision to award Morocco the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title.
Despite the ruling, Gueye still considers himself an African champion with the Lions of Teranga and said he is ready to “return the medals” to the Moroccans to move forward.
The statement has generated significant attention. Gueye, captain of Senegal—a nation that lost its title after CAF declared Morocco the winner “on the green carpet”—wants to put an end to the controversies surrounding AFCON 2025.
On Saturday, the Everton midfielder first reiterated that he still saw himself as an African champion. On the pitch alongside his teammate Iliman Ndiaye against Chelsea, he celebrated scoring the team’s third goal by showing one then two fingers to the camera, signaling that Senegal still claims two Africa Cup of Nations titles in its record.
“If it were up to me, I would have told the Federation not to appeal,” Gueye said.
The 128-cap player also confirmed after the match on Canal+: “We deserve to be African champions. For us, we are the African champions, it doesn’t change anything.”
Gueye went further regarding Senegal’s forfeit recorded by CAF: “This announcement is just a distraction that may be trying to divide Africa. If it were up to me, I would have told the Federation not to appeal.”
Following CAF’s decision, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) announced it had referred the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the highest sports authority.
Gueye added: “I personally commit to gathering the medals and returning them to Morocco if it can really ease tensions between the two countries.”