Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye has finally broken his silence, putting an end to claims of food poisoning before their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco.
Reports went rife that some Senegalese players suffered food poisoning before taking on the Atlas Lions in the high-stake final, held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
But Gueye, who plies his trade for Premier League outfit Everton has rubbished such reports, urging the world to treat it with the needed contempt it deserves. For Gueye, the allegations were completely baseless, stressing that the national team’s technical and medical departments placed great emphasis on nutrition throughout the tournament.
According to Gueye, a strict and well-supervised dietary system was in place from the start of the competition to its conclusion, revealing the Senegalese delegation traveled with a specialized nutrition team, including a dedicated chef responsible for preparing meals that met precise nutritional standards. This approach, he explained, ensured that every player received balanced, regular, and carefully monitored meals throughout the tournament.
Speaking to Senegalese media, Gueye underlined that the players ate normally and that there were no collective health issues within the squad at any point, effectively putting to rest the claims of food poisoning.
His remarks were widely seen as an indirect response to comments made by teammate Ismail Jakobs after the final, in which the defender hinted at suspicions of possible food poisoning among some players, while also admitting there was no concrete evidence to support the claim.
With Gueye’s clarification, the speculation surrounding Senegal’s physical condition at the AFCON final has been laid to rest. He confirmed that both accommodation and nutritional arrangements were of a high standard and had no impact on the team’s health or performance.
Senegal went on to cap their campaign in style, clinching the continental crown with a narrow 1–0 victory over hosts Morocco in the chaotic final. Midfielder Pape Gueye emerged as the hero in the crucial final, netting the match-winner in extra-time after a pulsating goalless draw in regular time.
