Ndiaye adamant Senegal are African champions despite Afcon legal wrangle
Senegal forward Iliman Ndiaye said his team are 'African champions in many people's eyes' despite the legal wrangle over the 2025 Afcon title. CAF awaits the Court of Arbitration for Sport's ruling in mid-June. Senegal will open their World Cup 2026 Group G campaign.
Speaking at a Senegal national team press briefing at the camp in Marseille, 26-year-old Iliman Ndiaye told BBC Sport: 'We won on the pitch; the statistics are on our side. We are African champions in many people's eyes.' In the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, Senegal beat the Ivory Coast 4-3 on penalties; however, the CAF Disciplinary Committee later ruled a 0-3 forfeit, on the grounds that the host country's team fielded a player not notified under protocol.
The Senegal Football Federation has taken the CAF decision to the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport. The court's ruling is expected in mid-June; if it goes Senegal's way, the original result of the final played in Cinatraore will be reinstated. Federation President Augustin Senghor told the BBC: 'Whatever the legal outcome, this generation has secured its place in history.' Veterans Sadio Mané, Édouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly are at the camp.
Senegal will face Germany, Mexico and Czechia in FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G. The Lions of Teranga will open their campaign on June 13 against Czechia at Toronto's BMO Field. Coach Aliou Cissé will name his 26-man squad this weekend; Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Habib Diallo and Bayern Munich defender Abdoulaye Niakhaté are expected to be included. Betting sites give Senegal a 42 percent chance of finishing second in the group.
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