Senegal Displays AFCON Trophy Despite Title Dispute
Senegal have submitted an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport following their disqualification from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
On Saturday, prior to a friendly match against Peru at Stade de France, Senegal paraded the AFCON trophy despite having been stripped of the championship earlier in the month.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) awarded the 2025 AFCON title to Morocco after overturning the result of the January final.
During the final, Senegal's players left the field in protest when Morocco, the hosts, were granted a stoppage-time penalty while the score was 0-0.
After a delay of approximately 17 minutes, the players returned. Morocco missed the penalty, and Senegal scored the winning goal in extra time.
Following an appeal by the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), CAF ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory.
Senegal has since appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which has stated it will deliver a ruling "as swiftly as possible."
Before the friendly against Peru, Senegal's captain Kalidou Koulibaly and his teammates took a lap of honour on the pitch carrying the AFCON trophy. Subsequently, Koulibaly and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy placed the trophy in the stadium's presidential box.
This friendly in Paris marks Senegal's first match since the AFCON final and serves as preparation for the upcoming World Cup starting in June.
Senegal has been drawn in the same World Cup group as France, Norway, and either Bolivia or Iraq.
