PARIS —Senegal coach Pape Bouna Thiaw declared his team the rightful African champions, despite the Confederation of African Football’s Appeal Board awarding the Africa Cup of Nations title to Morocco this month over Senegal’s controversial 14-minute walk-off in January’s Rabat final.
Ahead of a World Cup warm-up friendly against Peru at Stade de France, Thiaw urged focus on football amid the uproar. “We know we’re African champions. Competitions and trophies are won on the pitch. We’ve done that,” he told reporters, dismissing distractions as Senegal appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Star midfielder Idrissa Gueye echoed the sentiment, highlighting Senegal’s three finals and two titles in the last four Cup of Nations. “We didn’t steal this result. It’s the work of an entire country… We deserve to be African champions on the field,” he said.
Both appeared before a “Champions of Africa” backdrop, with speculation Senegal might display the trophy to fans, potentially escalating tensions with Morocco. Thiaw, punished for leading the protest, can coach at June’s World Cup, with a Gambia friendly next in Dakar.