Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw on Friday insisted that “trophies are won on the pitch” following the controversial decision to strip his team of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and award it to Morocco.
“I am focused on my job. It is important not to be distracted. Everyone knows we are the champions of Africa,” Thiaw told reporters at a press conference in Paris ahead of Saturday’s friendly against Peru at the Stade de France.
“We will keep working hard to win more trophies. It is clear in our minds that trophies are won on the pitch,” he added.
Saturday’s match forms part of Senegal’s preparations for the upcoming World Cup, where they are drawn alongside France, Norway, and the winner of a play-off between Bolivia and Iraq in the United States.
The Peru clash will be Senegal’s first outing since the dramatic AFCON final against Morocco in Rabat on January 18. Senegal had secured a 1-0 victory through Pape Gueye’s extra-time goal, but the match was overshadowed by controversy late in normal time.
Several Senegal players briefly walked off the pitch in protest after Morocco were awarded a penalty with the score still goalless, triggering chaotic scenes. Some fans attempted to invade the pitch, leading to a near 20-minute delay before play resumed.
Morocco’s Brahim Diaz saw his penalty saved, and Senegal went on to win in extra time.
However, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) later ruled in favour of an appeal by the Moroccan Football Federation, finding Senegal guilty of breaching tournament regulations by walking off the pitch.
CAF consequently overturned the result, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory and the title.
Senegal have since appealed the decision to the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“We deserved to be champions of Africa on the pitch, and we will try to prove it off the pitch as well,” said captain Idrissa Gana Gueye.
The 36-year-old Everton midfielder had earlier said he would be willing to “hand back the medals” if it would ease tensions between the two nations.
Gueye, who was also part of Senegal’s historic 2022 AFCON-winning squad, defended his team’s record.
“Nothing can replace the emotions we experienced. We didn’t steal those results. A whole nation worked for it, on and off the field,” he said, noting that Senegal have reached three AFCON finals since 2019.
AFP
