‘Everyone knows we are African champions’ – Senegal coach Pape Thiaw

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has stressed that “trophies are won on the pitch,” amid controversy over the team being stripped of their Africa Cup of Nations title, with Morocco now officially crowned champions.

Speaking at a press conference in Paris ahead of Saturday’s friendly against Peru at the Stade de France, Thiaw said he remains focused on the team’s work.

“I am focused on my job. It is important to not be distracted. Everyone knows we are the champions of Africa,” Thiaw told reporters at a press conference in Paris, ahead of his team’s friendly meeting with Peru on Saturday at the Stade de France.

“We are going to keep working hard to try to win more trophies. It is clear in our minds that trophies are won on the pitch.”

The match against Peru is part of Senegal’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup, where they will face France, Norway, and the winner of a play-off between Bolivia and Iraq in the group stage.

It also marks Senegal’s first outing since the controversial Cup of Nations final against Morocco in Rabat on January 18.

Senegal had won the match 1-0 thanks to Pape Gueye’s extra-time goal. The final, however, was overshadowed by chaos at the end of regular time, when several Senegal players left the field in protest after Morocco was awarded a penalty while the score remained 0-0.

Some Senegalese fans tried to storm the pitch, delaying the game for nearly 20 minutes before play resumed. Brahim Diaz’s penalty was missed, allowing Senegal to claim victory in extra time.

Despite the win, the Confederation of African Football last week upheld an appeal by the Moroccan Football Federation, ruling that Senegal had violated tournament regulations by walking off the pitch.

As a result, Senegal were handed a 3-0 forfeit defeat, and Morocco were declared champions. Senegal has since filed an appeal with the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“We deserved to be champions of Africa on the pitch and we will try to do the same thing off it,” said Senegal captain Idrissa Gana Gueye on Friday.

The Everton midfielder, 36, also expressed willingness to “hand back the medals” to Morocco if it helps ease tensions between the two nations.

Gueye, who was part of Senegal’s first-ever AFCON-winning squad in 2022, highlighted the team’s consistent performances in recent tournaments.

“Nothing can replace the emotions that we have experienced,” Gueye added on Friday, pointing out that his team have won two titles in the last three editions of AFCON, having also reached the 2019 final which they lost to Algeria.

“We didn’t steal those results. A whole country put in the work, a nation which gives everything on the field and off it.”