Everton may now be in store for a difficult conversation with the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) after Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye had the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) taken from them.
The Everton duo were part of the Senegal side who won the tournament following a 1-0 victory over Morocco in January.
However, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have now named Morocco as winners by default, as Senegal left the field for 17 minutes of the final in protest against some rather questionable refereeing by Jean-Jacques Ndala. It has been decided that Senegal forfeited the match, despite returning to the pitch and finishing the game.
The PFA have already rewarded Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye with special recognition awards, so Everton now face an awkward exchange after the verdict.
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PFA may now try to take special recognition awards from Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye
The PFA handed special recognition awards to the Everton duo – along with Crystal Palace No.7 Ismaila Sarr and West Ham defender El Hadji Malick Diouf – after Senegal defeated Morocco.
Those were only issued last week, and are personalised with the name and number Gueye and Ndiaye wear for Senegal.
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Now, however, with Morocco technically the champions of Africa, it is possible that the PFA ask for these awards to be returned.
That would make for an awkward situation, as Gueye has already defiantly hit back at the verdict from CAF with a statement. The Everton No.27 said: “Titles, trophies, medals… all of that is fleeting.
“What truly matters is that every supporter can return home to their family. The Senegalese people have shown their true character: dignified in victory, dignified in adversity.
“That is Teranga. We know what we experienced that night in Rabat, and that, God willing, no one can take away from us.”
So, if the PFA attempt to take the special recognition award too, it could make for a messy situation involving Everton and the organisation.
Will Everton need European football to keep Iliman Ndiaye? 😬
Surely a player of his quality will want to showcase himself on the top stage 🤩
Iliman Ndiaye ahead of playing for Everton.
Credit: Getty Images/Simon Stacpoole/Offside
Senegal are set to appeal the suggestion they breached Article 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations, so perhaps the PFA will simply wait for the outcome of that decision before making any move of their own.
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