Seyifunmi Azeez
Senegal’s national football team paraded the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) trophy on Saturday before a friendly match against Peru, despite having been stripped of the title earlier this month.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) had declared Morocco the winners of the 2025 tournament after overturning the result of January’s final. Senegal’s players had protested during the match, leaving the field after a stoppage-time penalty was awarded to Morocco.
When they returned 17 minutes later, Senegal scored an extra-time winner, but CAF later ruled the match forfeited following an appeal by the Moroccan Football Federation, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory.
Senegal has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which has promised a swift ruling.
Ahead of the friendly at Stade de France, captain Kalidou Koulibaly and teammates entered the pitch with the Afcon trophy for a lap of honour. Koulibaly and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy later placed the trophy in the stadium’s presidential box.
The match marked Senegal’s first outing since the controversial final and forms part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup in June, where they will face France, Norway, and either Bolivia or Iraq in the group stage.