Senegal football champions remain undisputed in the eyes of the team, despite the Confederation of African Football awarding the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations title to Morocco. Senegal’s men national team coach, Pape Thiaw, spoke firmly in Paris ahead of a friendly against Peru at the Stade de France, rejecting the official decision while emphasizing the team’s focus on performance and preparation.
“Everyone knows we are the champions of Africa. That is clear in our minds. My job is to stay focused and keep the team working hard for more trophies,” Thiaw said. He stressed that victories are earned on the pitch, reflecting a belief that resonates across the Senegalese squad.
Senegal originally defeated Morocco 1-0 in the final held in Rabat, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal in extra time. The match, however, was marked by controversy when Senegalese players briefly walked off in protest over a penalty decision. Morocco filed an appeal, prompting CAF to rule that Senegal had violated tournament regulations. The result was overturned to a 3-0 defeat, and Morocco was awarded the championship. Senegal has since taken the dispute to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Team captain Idrissa Gana Gueye spoke on the collective effort behind Senegal’s performance. “We earned the victory on the field and we will pursue justice off it. We did not steal anything. A whole nation gave everything on the pitch and behind the scenes,” he said, capturing both pride and frustration over the situation.
Gueye reflected on the emotional weight of the original win and Senegal’s consistency in recent tournaments. “The emotions of that victory cannot be replaced. Our record shows the work we put into competing at the highest level,” he said.
The friendly against Peru serves as part of Senegal’s preparation for the 2026 World Cup. They are drawn to face France, Norway, and a play-off winner in the group stage. While the official title remains contested, Senegal’s leadership and players maintain that the recognition of their achievement belongs first to the effort on the field, rather than the rulings of football authorities.
