Iliman Ndiaye has declared that Senegal are the rightful champions of Africa and insists the ongoing legal dispute over the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title will not deflect the Teranga Lions' focus at the 2026 World Cup.

Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 after extra time in January's Afcon final, but the triumph has since been clouded in controversy. A Confederation of African Football (Caf) appeals board ruled on 17 March that Senegal had breached tournament regulations by leaving the field of play without the permission of referee Jean-Jacques Ndala, and awarded the title to Morocco instead.

Senegal's football federation has since appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which is yet to deliver a ruling on the matter.

"Obviously, in our eyes and many other people's eyes, we are the champions of Africa," Ndiaye told Newsday on the BBC World Service. "Whatever their decisions will be, it doesn't disturb us. The same focus and hunger and determination that we had going into the Afcon, we're going to do the same going into the World Cup."

The flashpoints that sparked the walk-off

The chaos unfolded in second-half stoppage time during the final in Rabat. Referee Ndala first disallowed a Senegal goal, ruling that there had been a foul on Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi before Ismaila Sarr headed the ball into the net. Moments later, following a review at his pitch-side monitor, Ndala awarded the tournament hosts a penalty after Brahim Diaz appeared to be pulled back by El Hadji Malick Diouf from a corner.

The decision triggered a walk-off by several Senegal players, substitutes, and coaching staff. After a delay of roughly 17 minutes, the players returned to finish the game — reportedly encouraged by those who had remained on the pitch, including Sadio Mané, who was seen rushing to the dressing room to bring his team-mates back.

"The manager [Pape Thiaw] and the players that stayed outside on the pitch told everyone that went inside to come back and finish the game," Ndiaye explained. Once play resumed, Édouard Mendy saved Diaz's Panenka-style spot kick before Pape Gueye struck the decisive goal in extra time.

Ndiaye, who had been substituted before the incidents and was watching from the bench, acknowledged that emotions reached breaking point after two contentious decisions fell against his side in quick succession. "It was just a bit of unfairness that happened for us," the Everton forward said. "Emotions were really high and you do things straight away."

'Not a good look' for African football

Despite standing firm on Senegal's claim to the title, the 26-year-old conceded that the saga has damaged the image of African football. Senegal had even paraded the Afcon trophy ahead of a friendly against Peru on 28 March — 11 days after Caf's ruling.

"To take all of that away two months after the final whistle… I don't understand," Ndiaye said. "If you give the decision to the referee on the pitch, you've got to leave that decision to him. In Africa we have to stay together and do everything in our power to lift up African football. It wasn't a great look so I just hope they put it right."

Senegal are drawn in Group I at the 2026 World Cup alongside France, Norway, and Iraq. The tournament runs across Canada, Mexico, and the USA from 11 June to 19 July.