Senegal national football team display AFCON trophy, defy calls to be stripped of title

Senegal paraded the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy on Saturday before their friendly against Peru at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, despite the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ordering the team to return it.

About an hour before kickoff, coach Pape Bouna Thiaw and the players carried the trophy around the pitch, drawing cheers from a packed stadium.

CAF had overturned Senegal’s 1-0 win over Morocco in the March 17 ruling, awarding a 3-0 victory to Morocco. The decision followed the January 18 final in Rabat, when Senegal’s players briefly left the field without the referee’s permission after Morocco was awarded a stoppage-time penalty. Captain Sadio Mane had convinced his team to return, and Pape Gueye scored in extra time to secure the on-field 1-0 victory. Senegal has appealed the ruling with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and continues to contest the title.

Ahead of the friendly, Senegal captain Kalidou Coulibaly and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy placed the trophy in the stadium’s presidential box, alongside Abdoulaye Fall, president of the Senegalese Football Federation, following a performance by Senegalese singer Youssou Ndour.

On the field, Senegal delivered a dominant performance against Peru. Nicolas Jackson opened the scoring after a strong run from teenage player Ibrahima Mbaye, and Sarr added a second goal after navigating past two defenders, securing a comfortable win in Mane’s absence.