Guy suggests returning the medals to Morocco

Senegalese national team midfielder Idrissa Gueye expressed his willingness to “return the medals” he won with his teammates after winning the African Cup of Nations title to Morocco, after awarding them to the “Atlas Lions” on paper despite losing the final on the field, in order to “calm the tension” between the two countries.

Guy said on Canal +, on Saturday evening, after his team Everton beat Chelsea in the English Premier League 3-0: “I personally pledge to collect the medals and perhaps return them to Morocco if that might ease the tension between the two countries.”

He added: "This matter is ridiculous... The football match is decided on the field, and this is what we did in Morocco. We did what was necessary on the field, we won that match. We deserve to be African champions, and we are African champions for us! Titles are won on the field, not in offices."

Guy captained Senegal in the tournament final as a replacement for suspended defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

Two months after the final match, which the “Lions of Teranga” won 1-0 after extra time in Rabat on January 18, the Appeals Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced, on Tuesday, that Senegal was considered “withdrawn from the final,” and the result on paper was approved as 3-0 in favor of Morocco.

Following the decision, the Senegalese Federation announced that it would resort to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the highest sports judicial body based in Lausanne.

Guy said on Saturday: “If it were up to me, I would have told the federation not to file an appeal.”

A number of Senegal players had left the field on the night of the final in protest against a penalty kick awarded to Morocco in stoppage time of the second half after referring to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), at a time when the scoreless tie was in control.

Play resumed after a quarter of an hour of chaos and tension, with Senegal fans throwing projectiles and trying to storm the field. Moroccan Ibrahim Diaz missed the penalty kick, before Senegal won with a goal by Pape Gui in extra time.