Everton star makes Senegal AFCON statement immediately after Chelsea win

Everton star Iliman Ndiaye briefly paused their celebrations after beating Chelsea 3-0 to address Senegal being stripped of the 2026 AFCON title - with Idrissa Gueye also making his feelings clear.

David Moyes' side produced arguably their finest display of the new Hill Dickinson Stadium era to put three goals past a hapless Chelsea defence on Saturday evening.

Beto scored a brace either side of half-time, before Ndiaye netted Everton's third goal with a superb curling right-footed strike into the top right corner.

Gueye was also involved in the scoring by assisting Beto for his second goal.

For both of Everton's Senegalese stars, this week has dominated by their nation losing the AFCON crown that they won in January by defeating hosts Morocco 1-0.

Shortly after full-time, Ndiaye walked up to the camera before simply stating: "We are champions of Africa."

After Everton's third goal, he and Gueye held up two fingers to signify their belief that Senegal should be two-time AFCON winners.

Ndiaye and Gueye both held up two fingers to the Everton supporters (Image: Getty)

Their enforced forfeiture of January's final means they are officially only one-time winners.

Why were Senegal stripped of the 2026 AFCON title?

CAF's Appeal Board found that the conduct of the Senegal team fell 'within the scope of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations'.

Towards the end of the second half, Senegal coach Pape Thiaw led his players from the field of play in protest at a controversial penalty awarded to Morocco.

The players did not return until around 15 minutes later after being convinced by captain Sadio Mane - who himself had not left the pitch.

Brahim Diaz's attempted Panenka penalty was then saved by Edouard Mendy.

The match went to extra time, with Pape Gueye's stunning goal from distance giving Senegal a 1-0 win and their second AFCON title.

Article 82 of the AFCON Regulations states that if a team 'refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorisation of the referee, it shall be considered looser'.

Article 84 then states that any team who contravenes Article 82 'shall be eliminated for good from the competition'.

"The CAF Appeal Board decided that in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 ("the Match"), with the result of the Match being recorded as 3-0 in favour of the Federation Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF)," a CAF statement read.

Following the verdict announcement, the Senegalese Football Federation confirmed that they will launch an appeal, as well as legal action against CAF.

Read more: Senegal to take legal action as statement issued after AFCON title stripped

An official statement read: "This decision is unfair, unprecedented, unacceptable, and tarnishes the reputation of African football.

"The Federation will, at the earliest opportunity, initiate appeal proceedings before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne."