Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) victory has sparked controversy after head coach Pape Thiaw reportedly moved the trophy to a secure military base.
This comes in response to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) awarding Morocco a technical victory in the final, overturning Senegal’s on-field win.
The trophy is now under armed guard, with soldiers allowed to photograph it a symbolic gesture asserting Senegal’s claim. Senegalese football authorities have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), insisting the title was “won on merit.”
Captain Kalidou Koulibaly and federation officials have publicly challenged CAF’s decision, while Morocco has accepted the ruling and celebrated their championship.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe has called for calm and pledged transparency, as the case raises concerns about governance and disciplinary consistency in African football.
The final ownership of the trophy remains uncertain pending CAS’s decision.
