The midfielder of Villarreal FC, Pape Gueye, remains unshaken in his belief that Senegal is the legitimate champion of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), despite the decision by the CAF Appeals Committee to revoke the title awarded to the Teranga Lions following their final victory over Morocco.

Speaking exclusively to L’Équipe, Gueye expressed his unwavering conviction: “Yes, of course, we are the champions of Africa—simply because we won on the pitch.” He highlighted the sequence of events in the final, where Senegal secured a 1-0 extra-time win on January 18, before controversially losing the title in March due to administrative proceedings.

The match, marred by contentious refereeing decisions, saw Senegal initially denied an equalizing goal before a contentious penalty was awarded to Morocco. The Lions protested by leaving the field temporarily but resumed play, only for Brahim Díaz to miss the penalty with a failed panenka attempt. Gueye scored the decisive goal in extra time, cementing Senegal’s victory on the field.

why the world knows who really won

Gueye emphasized the transparency of the result, stating: “The world saw it all. The game was interrupted, but it resumed. No Moroccan player wanted to stop—everyone wanted to take the penalty. Why should the result be questioned afterward?” He went further, asserting that the medals are already in Senegal’s possession, reinforcing his stance that the title belongs to his team.

His comments come after teammate Idrissa Gueye jokingly suggested returning his medal to ease tensions—prompting Pape Gueye to clarify: “I told him no, I’m not giving up my medal! The whole world knows that Senegal won the cup.”

Senegal fights for justice at tas

In late March, Senegal presented its CAN 2025 trophy during a friendly match at the Stade de France, defiantly celebrating the title despite the CAF’s decision. The Senegalese Football Federation subsequently filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, seeking to overturn the ruling.

The CAS has yet to set a timeline for its deliberations. Once a decision is reached, it will mark the definitive end of the legal proceedings, with no further appeals possible for either Morocco or Senegal.

Until then, Pape Gueye and the Senegalese squad continue to uphold their claim to the title, arguing that the facts on the pitch cannot be erased by administrative rulings.