Pape gueye refuses to surrender Senegal’s can 2025 trophy amid caf controversy

Pape Gueye, the midfielder for Villarreal and a key figure in Senegal’s football history, has firmly declared that he will not return the African Cup of Nations (CAN) 2025 medal to Morocco. His stance comes after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) controversially stripped Senegal of its title, a decision that has sparked widespread debate across the continent.

Speaking exclusively to L’Équipe, Gueye emphasized that Senegal’s victory on the field remains undisputed. “Of course we are the champions of Africa,” he stated. “We won that final on the pitch—the whole world saw it. There were incidents, the match was interrupted, but it resumed. When the penalty was awarded, no Moroccan player wanted to stop the match; they all wanted to take it. So why should the result be questioned now? And besides, the medals are with us.”