Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye has firmly dismissed suggestions that his country relied on black magic to secure their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
The Villarreal man, who scored the decisive goal in the final, reflected on several controversial moments from the match during an interview with Spanish radio station COPE.
One of the flashpoints involved Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, whose towel placed near his goal became the centre of a brief confrontation when Moroccan players attempted to remove it.
“Yes, I saw the clips after the match. I don’t know why they did that (the Moroccan players). During the game, many things happened, including the towel incident and the refereeing,” Gueye said as he addressed the episode.
The 27-year-old also responded to widespread rumours on social media alleging that Senegal resorted to supernatural means during the tournament. Gueye was unequivocal in his response, brushing aside the claims and shifting the focus back to the achievement on the pitch.
“No, none of that is true. After the match, the most important thing for us was the win we achieved, giving Senegal its second star,” he stated.
Gueye further explained why Senegal’s players chose not to celebrate when Morocco’s Brahim Diaz missed a late penalty in the final moments of regulation time. According to him, the team deliberately avoided emotional reactions in order to remain fully focused.
“We had to keep our concentration,” he said, stressing that discipline was crucial in such a high-pressure situation.
Reflecting on the goal that sealed Senegal’s continental success, Gueye admitted it stands above every other moment in his career so far.
“Right now, it’s the best goal of my career, because of the importance of the match,” he revealed.
“After I scored, many things came to my mind. It felt like a childhood dream. I cried with joy.”
