Senegal’s Gueye Defends AFCON Walk-Off, Claims ‘Interruption’Not a Forfeit. Dakar, Senegal — Amidst the controversy surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, Senegalese footballer Pape Gueye stands firm in his belief that the team’s walk-off during the match against Morocco was merely an “interruption, “not a forfeiture of the game. Gueye, speaking to L’Équipe, emphasized the Senegalese perspective, arguing that despite the match being paused and subsequently resumed, Senegal emerged victorious on the field.
He also dismissed the suggestion of returning his medal to Morocco, which he views as the legitimate African champion, stating that the trophy was won fair and square by his team. The Senegalese footballer’s stance contrasts with the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to strip Senegal of the title following their walk-off, which was seen as a breach of AFCON regulations. Morocco was declared the champions as a result.
However, Senegal has appealed this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), where the final outcome remains pending. As the Senegalese football federation awaits a resolution from CAS, the walk-off incident continues to be a contentious point of national pride. Gueye’s unwavering assertion that the event was an “interruption “and not a forfeit reflects the deep-seated belief among many Senegalese that their team’s title is legitimate and not subject to dispute.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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By This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: moroccoworldnews
Source: Safaa Kasraoui
