Edouard Mendy insists Senegal are Africa Cup of Nations champions despite CAF ruling - 'No question about it'
Published 29/03/2026 at 15:31 GMT+1
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Ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was defiant when asked about the decision to strip Senegal of their Africa Cup of Nations title. Mendy and his team-mates still paraded the trophy in Paris on Saturday, despite Morocco being retrospectively named champions by the Confederation of African Football. But the 34-year-old claimed "everybody feels" the title remains Senegal's.
Mendy: Everybody feels Senegal are champions
Video credit: SNTV
Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy insisted his country remain champions of Africa, despite being stripped of their title.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) awarded the Africa Cup of Nations title to Morocco earlier this month, after Senegal's controversial final victory over the host nation in January.
Senegal were ”declared to have forfeited the final” after head coach Pape Thiaw instructed his players to leave the pitch when Morocco were awarded a dubious penalty late in the second half.
It took 15 minutes for Senegal's players to return, after which Brahim Diaz missed his penalty. The final subsequently went to extra-time, and Pape Gueye scored the winning goal.
CAF originally handed out fines and bans in response to an appeal by the Moroccan FA, but later confirmed that Morocco had retrospectively been awarded a 3-0 win.
That did not stop Senegal parading the AFCON trophy at the Stade de France on Saturday before a friendly against Peru.
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And former Chelsea keeper Mendy has made clear his view on the situation.
"My question is: why should I not feel African champion? Why? You don't have any reason to give me to feel like you're not a champion," he said.
"Everybody feels that Senegal are the champions. So there is no question about it. There was a game on the field, we won it.
"There is another game, but on another field, which we cannot control, unfortunately. But these people, unfortunately, they are not on the level.
"The football on the pitch by African footballers is going faster than these people in the offices. It's a shame for Africa, but these things need to change, and we need to be on the same level everywhere."
Senegal have launched an appeal of their own, but the case is considered closed by CAF.
Manager Thiaw shared Mendy's sentiments, though, and highlighted the need to remain focused on football ahead of this summer's World Cup campaign in North America.
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”We know we’re African champions,” he said. ”The most important thing is not to get distracted.
"We’re going to keep working to win more trophies. It’s clear in our minds that competitions and trophies are won on the pitch. We’ve done that; we’re African champions.”
Senegal went on to beat Peru 2-0 in Paris thanks to goals from Nicolas Jackson - on loan at Bayern Munich from Chelsea - and Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr.
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The Lions of Teranga are expected to be strong at the World Cup, though they are in a tricky group with France and Norway.
Thiaw will hope to guide his side to the tournament's latter stages, with their best run coming in 2002, when they reached the quarter-finals in South Korea and Japan.
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