Pape Gueye has humorously revealed the unexpected wave of support he received from Algerian fans following his side’s decisive encounter involving Morocco.
The Senegal international shared that his social media following surged dramatically in the aftermath of the match, largely driven by messages from supporters in Algeria who were eager to see Morocco denied success.
“Algerians… forget it, man. It’s thanks to them that I have a million followers on Instagram,” Gueye joked. “They all sent me messages after the match: ‘My brother, we’re so happy, thank you — we didn’t want Morocco to win!’”
The midfielder added, with a touch of amusement, that the reception awaiting him in Algeria would likely be extraordinary. “If I go to Algeria tomorrow, I think they’ll welcome me in a limousine,” he said.
Gueye’s remarks highlight the intense regional rivalries that often shape the narratives around major tournaments like the Africa Cup of Nations. While competition on the pitch remains fierce, moments like these underline how football rivalries can spill into unexpected displays of cross-border support.