Iliman Ndiaye has declared that Senegal remain Africa’s rightful champions, in a defiant response to the decision by the Confederation of African Football to strip the country of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title.
The forward made the statement after scoring for his club against Chelsea on Saturday, using the moment to reiterate his position on the ongoing controversy.
“We are champions of Africa,” Ndiaye said after the match.
His remarks come days after CAF’s Appeals Board ruled that Senegal national football team had forfeited the final against Morocco national football team. The decision followed a 17-minute walk-off by Senegal during the match in Rabat on 18 January, staged in protest of a late penalty decision.
CAF subsequently awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory and declared them tournament winners, overturning the original result in which Senegal had prevailed after extra time.
The ruling has sparked widespread debate, with strong reactions from players, officials and supporters. Senegal’s football authorities have confirmed plans to challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where a final verdict is expected.
The controversy has also drawn responses from within the Moroccan camp. Team captain Achraf Hakimi has publicly rejected the title, stating that his side did not earn it on the pitch.
Ndiaye’s comments reflect a broader sentiment among Senegal’s players and supporters, many of whom continue to regard the team as the legitimate champions despite the official ruling.
The dispute has raised questions about how such decisions are handled in international football, particularly when administrative rulings overturn results achieved during play.
For now, the matter remains unresolved, with the outcome dependent on the pending appeal. Until then, differing interpretations of the final are likely to persist, both within Africa and across the wider football community.
