Senegal's AFCON Hero Pape Gueye Stands Firm Against Medal Return
In a defiant stance that has captured international attention, Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye has publicly rejected his teammate Idrissa Gana Gueye's offer to collect and return all 2025 Africa Cup of Nations medals. This dramatic development follows the Confederation of African Football's controversial decision to overturn the final result and declare Morocco champions instead of Senegal.
The Controversial AFCON 2025 Final
The Teranga Lions originally defeated the Atlas Lions of Morocco 1-0 to claim the AFCON 2025 title at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on January 18, 2026. The match, however, was marred by significant controversy when Senegal's players staged a 17-minute protest on the pitch following a contentious penalty decision by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala.
The protest occurred after the referee disallowed a Senegal goal and awarded Morocco a penalty instead. Veteran forward Sadio Mane eventually persuaded his teammates to return to the field and complete the match. Moroccan midfielder Brahim Diaz subsequently missed the penalty with an attempted Panenka that was easily saved by Senegalese goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, forcing the game into extra time.
Gueye's Decisive Goal and CAF's Intervention
Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye scored what appeared to be the championship-winning goal just four minutes into extra time, securing what most observers believed was Senegal's rightful victory. However, CAF conducted a thorough investigation into the match incidents and imposed suspensions and fines on individuals from both teams.
When the Moroccan Football Federation appealed the initial judgment, CAF made the unprecedented decision to overturn the final result entirely, declaring Morocco champions instead. Remarkably, CAF rejected Morocco's additional request to physically withdraw the trophy and medals from Senegal's players and officials.
Teammate Division Over Medal Return
Following CAF's verdict, Senegal's captain during the final, Everton midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye, offered to collect all championship medals from his teammates and return them to CAF authorities. This gesture has now been met with firm resistance from the tournament's decisive goalscorer.
"Do we feel like champions? Yes, of course, because we are simply the African champions," Pape Gueye told French publication L'Equipe. "We managed to win this final on the pitch, the whole world saw it. There were those incidents, the interruption, but the match resumed."
The 26-year-old midfielder directly addressed his captain's proposal, stating: "And besides, the medals are with us. Are we going to return the medals like Idrissa Gueye said? No, no, that was ironic! I told him I wasn't about to give up my medal! The whole world knows very well that the cup was won by Senegal."
Defending the Protest and Acknowledging Mane's Leadership
Gueye acknowledged that the 17-minute protest during the final might not have set "the best example," but defended his team's actions as a response to perceived injustice under immense pressure. He specifically credited Sadio Mane's leadership in resolving the on-field standoff.
"When you're facing injustice, with the pressure of the match, a final on top of that," Gueye explained. "Sadio told us to come back, that we were going to play like men, and that if we were going to lose, that's just how it is. We all listened to him: penalty saved, extra time, and my goal."
Ongoing Legal Proceedings and Future Implications
The Senegal Football Federation has appealed CAF's decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, though recent updates indicate the appeal will not be expedited. Without mutual agreement among all parties for an accelerated process, a final verdict could take up to a year to be delivered.
This unprecedented situation continues to raise significant questions about:
- The authority of match officials during critical tournament decisions
- The appropriate disciplinary measures for team protests during matches
- The precedent set by overturning tournament results after completion
- The psychological impact on players who believe they earned victory on the field
As the legal process unfolds, Pape Gueye's firm stance against returning his championship medal symbolizes the deep conviction among Senegal's players that they rightfully earned African football's highest honor through their performance on the pitch.
