Senegal to Parade AFCON Trophy Despite Title Being Stripped

Senegal are set to parade the Africa Cup of Nations trophy before their friendly against Peru at the Stade de France on Saturday, defiantly maintaining their claim as champions even after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) stripped them of the title. The move, announced on the Senegalese Football Federation’s social media, comes just days after CAF’s appeals committee declared Morocco winners following chaotic scenes in January’s final.

The Lions of Teranga had originally celebrated their second AFCON crown on 18 January after defeating hosts Morocco 1-0 in extra time. The match, played in Rabat, descended into controversy when Senegal walked off the pitch after Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty with the score still goalless. Although play resumed and Brahim Diaz missed the spot-kick for Morocco, Pape Gueye went on to score an extra-time winner for Senegal.

Last week, however, CAF’s appeal board reversed that result. The board ruled that Senegal had contravened articles 82 and 84 of competition regulations by leaving the field without referee authorization. Under Article 82, such an action leads to automatic elimination. As a result, Morocco were awarded a 3-0 victory and officially named champions. This administrative decision sparked outrage in Senegal and prompted immediate action from both the football federation and government.

FSF president Abdoulaye Fall was outspoken at a press conference in Paris on Thursday. “Faced with what amounts to the most blatant and unprecedented administrative robbery in the history of our sport, the Senegalese Football Federation refuses to accept this as inevitable,” Fall said. He stressed that “Senegal will not bend the knee and will not compromise its values,” describing a new battle that now “transcends the football pitch.”

Despite CAF’s ruling, there is no order for Senegal to return their medals or hand back the trophy. FSF lawyer Seydou Diagne told journalists that CAF’s appeals body had rejected Morocco’s request for “the medals, the prize money, [and] the rewards” following the decision. Diagne emphasized: “There is no decision today from CAF or its appeals jury that orders the Senegalese Football Federation or the national team to return their medals or to return the trophy on the pitch.”

The planned trophy parade is scheduled as a 15-minute event before Saturday’s kick-off against Peru at Stade de France. The move is seen as a statement of resistance and a sign that Senegal still view themselves as legitimate champions while legal battles continue off the pitch.

Senegal has officially appealed CAF’s decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), filing their case on Wednesday. The federation expects CAS arbitration proceedings to begin swiftly, hoping for a reversal of what they see as an unjust verdict. In response to calls from within Senegal for an investigation into suspected corruption at CAF, governing body president Patrice Motsepe has insisted on both his own distance from proceedings and on the appeal board’s independence.

The build-up to Saturday’s friendly has been dominated by this off-field drama rather than team matters or tactics. According to FSF president Abdoulaye Fall, “Our fight now transcends football.” When asked directly if supporters would see a public presentation of Africa’s most prestigious football prize at Stade de France, Fall replied: “I’ll see you at the Stade de France on March 28th.”

Saturday’s match in Paris is likely to be remembered less for its result than for this highly unusual act of defiance—a national team parading a continental trophy just days after being stripped of it by authorities. As things stand, there has been no formal instruction from CAF requiring Senegal to relinquish either medals or trophy ahead of their public display.