The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will be remembered as one of the most significant moments in Senegalese football. Facing Morocco, the host nation, the Lions of Teranga displayed mastery and composure to win an intense final and secure their second continental title in history. Idrissa Gana Gueye reflected on this particularly tense match in an interview with Onze Mondial.
The Everton midfielder was a key player throughout the tournament, playing every minute of the competition. In the final, he stepped up as captain in the absence of the suspended Kalidou Koulibaly. The Dakar-born player highlighted the balance of play against a strong and aggressive Moroccan side.
“The match was very tense on both sides. Everyone was calculating their moves. We had chances, and so did they. It’s a high-quality team that plays well and runs a lot. They put us under pressure, especially when we lost the ball,” he explained.
As the match progressed, the tension escalated, fueled by several controversial referee decisions. As captain, Gueye felt a special responsibility to manage interactions with the referee.
“There were many little situations throughout the match. The referee often blew the whistle against us. We knew I was the only one allowed to talk to him. I approached him calmly, trying to discuss with a smile to understand his decisions and ease the atmosphere.”
The Senegalese midfielder also touched on a major turning point in the final: a Senegalese goal scored from a set piece, which was later disallowed for a foul, followed by a penalty awarded to Morocco. This sequence caused a lengthy interruption in play.
“We scored from a set piece, then the referee called a foul against us. Right after that, he awarded a penalty to Morocco. At that moment, everything became confusing. We wondered if the match would resume or not. The game was stopped for quite a while.”
In this electric atmosphere, the senior players played a crucial role in maintaining the unity and focus of the group. Gueye shared that he spoke with Sadio Mané, who consulted with the more experienced players and the coaching staff before rallying the team.
“We didn’t really understand what was happening, but we absolutely wanted to win. We talked about it with Sadio. He went to see some of the veterans, then he came back. We also discussed it with the coach. In the end, Sadio said, ‘Let’s get back on the field and play.’”
To relieve the tension and stay focused on their goal, the Lions chose to lighten the mood with humor. “We started joking among ourselves. We said, ‘Plus, he hasn’t even scored yet.’ That helped us relax,” Gueye concluded.
