Idrissa Gueye issues statement as Senegal decide next steps after being stripped of AFCON title

Senegal captain Idrissa Gana Gueye has issued a statement after it was confirmed that the AFCON final would be overturned and handed to Morocco.

On Tuesday evening it was announced in a lengthy statement from Confederation of African Football (CAF) that Senegal have been stripped of the 2026 AFCON.

It comes less than two months after the final, where Senegal won 1-0 thanks to an extra-time strike from Pape Gueye, but the winning goal was not the main topic of discussion.

The controversy came after Brahim Diaz was ruled to have been fouled by El Hadji Malick Diouf, handing Morocco the chance to win it with the final kick

Senegal boss Pape Thiaw then ordered his players off the field in response to the decision, with Sadio Mane the only player not to head to the dressing room.

After 15 minutes of refusal, the Senegalese squad returned to the pitch only for Diaz to miss the spot kick in embarrassing fashion with an attempted panenka.

Senegal captain Gueye issues statement on AFCON overturn

Despite going on to win the game, the Senegalese players will no longer be recognised as the champions of Africa, and captain Idrissa Gueye has issued a statement to his nation.

"Titles, trophies, medals… all of that is only temporary," he wrote on his Instagram story.

"What really matters is that every supporter can go home and be reunited with their family.

"The Senegalese people have shown who they are: dignified in victory, dignified in adversity.

"That is Teranga (Senegalese hospitality and spirit)."

Idrissa Gueye up against Brahim Diaz in the AFCON final (credit: getty)

The Everton man denounced the decision to overturn the result, but insisted the emotions of the night will never be taken away from the squad and the nation.

Gueye added: "We know what we experienced that night in Rabat, and that, no one will ever be able to take away from us, God willing."

In a separate slide of his Instagram story, the 36-year-old simply wrote: "We will bounce back."

CAF announce Morocco as 2025 Africa Cup of Nations champions in lengthy statement

The statement from CAF read: "The CAF Appeal Board decided that in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 (“the Match”), with the result of the Match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).

"The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) Appeal Board decided today that in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 (“the Match”), with the result of the Match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF)."

The statement continued: "On the appeal by the FRMF regarding the application of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the CAF Appeal Board made the following rulings:

- The appeal lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) is declared admissible in form and the appeal is upheld.

- The CAF Disciplinary Board decision is set aside.

- The CAF Appeal Board further finds that the conduct of the Senegal team falls within the scope of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations.

- The protest lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) is upheld.

- It is declared that the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), through the conduct of its team, infringed Article 82 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations.

- In application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations, the Senegal team is declared to have forfeited the match, with the result recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).

- All other motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.”