Trending 
Senegal head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw has broken his silence regarding the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to strip his team of the Africa Cup of Nations title.
Speaking at a press conference in Paris on Friday, Thiaw asserted that “tournaments are won on the pitch” and maintained that there is no doubt his squad remains the true continental champions.
The title was recently awarded to Morocco following a controversial 14-minute walk-off by the Senegalese team during the January final in Rabat.
Despite the heavy personal sanctions he faced for the incident, Thiaw urged his players to remain focused on football as they prepare for a World Cup warm-up friendly against Peru at the Stade de France.
Senegal have officially escalated the matter by appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland.
The coach emphasised that the team’s mental clarity remains unaffected by administrative rulings as they continue to work toward future trophies.
Veteran midfielder Idrissa Gueye echoed his coach’s sentiments, highlighting Senegal’s dominant track record of reaching three finals in the last four tournaments.
He stated that the “intense emotions” experienced during their on-field victory cannot be replaced by a boardroom decision.
The team appeared before a backdrop labelled “Champions of Africa,” signalling a defiant stance as they prepare to showcase the trophy to supporters in Paris, a move that could further heighten tensions with Moroccan football authorities.
