Senegal’s national team has publicly displayed the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy, despite being stripped of the title earlier this month in a controversial ruling by Confederation of African Football.
The players paraded the trophy before a friendly match against Peru at the Stade de France on Saturday, making a symbolic statement about their claim to the championship. Team captain Kalidou Coulibaly led the squad on a lap of honour, shortly after a performance by music icon Youssou N’Dour.
The dispute stems from CAF’s decision on March 17 to overturn the result of the AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco. Although Senegal had originally won the match 1-0 in Rabat, CAF awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory.
The ruling followed a 14-minute walk-off by Senegal’s players during the match, staged in protest against a penalty decision. CAF cited the incident as grounds for disciplinary action and reversal of the result.
Senegal has since challenged the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but Moroccan officials have insisted the matter is settled.
Head coach Pape Thiaw maintained that his team still considers itself the rightful champion.
“We know we’re African champions… competitions and trophies are won on the pitch,” he said, stressing that his players earned the title through their performance.
Thiaw, who was involved in the walk-off incident and faced sanctions, added that the team is focused on moving forward and avoiding distractions from the controversy.
Meanwhile, Morocco has shifted attention to future competitions, with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou stating the team has no interest in revisiting the dispute.
The row comes just months before the 2026 World Cup, where both teams are expected to compete, leaving the AFCON controversy unresolved as preparations intensify.
