Senegal’s national team made a bold statement on Saturday as they paraded the Africa Cup of Nations trophy ahead of their friendly match against Peru at the Stade de France in Paris.
Led by captain Kalidou Coulibaly, the players took a lap of honour with the trophy, drawing cheers from fans after a lively pre-match performance by music icon Youssou N’Dour.
The gesture comes weeks after the Confederation of African Football ruled on March 17 to overturn the original result of the AFCON final.
The decision awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory over Senegal, reversing the 1-0 win Senegal had secured in the January final played in Rabat.
Despite the ruling, Senegal’s actions in Paris appeared to signal their continued belief that they remain the rightful champions.
The governing body cited a 14-minute walk-off by Senegal players during the final, staged in protest at the award of a penalty, as grounds for the decision.
Senegal have since lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, but Morocco have described the matter as settled.
Head coach Pape Thiaw, speaking for the first time since Caf’s appeal board handed the title to Morocco, insisted his side remained the true champions of Africa.
“We know we’re African champions. We’re going to keep working to win more trophies. It’s clear in our minds that competitions and trophies are won on the pitch. We’ve done that; we’re African champions,” Thiaw said on Friday
Thiaw, who was at the centre of the walk-off controversy and faced sanctions for his role in it, said he was focused on keeping his squad clear of the ongoing dispute.
He will be permitted to lead Senegal at the 2026 World Cup in June. Saturday’s friendly is followed by another against neighbours Gambia in Dakar on Tuesday.
“The most important thing is not to get distracted,” he added.
Morocco, meanwhile, drew 1-1 with Ecuador in a friendly in Madrid on Friday, their first outing since the contentious ruling.
The match was also new coach Mohamed Ouahbi’s debut in charge, coming three months before the World Cup.
Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou signalled that Morocco had no interest in revisiting the controversy.
“We’re focused on what’s to come and not getting into that. The answer from us would be what our federation said and that’s all. We’re looking forwards,” he said.
Morocco have won the Afcon only once before, in 1976. With the country set to co-host the 2026 World Cup, Moroccan attention has shifted firmly to the summer tournament and Ouahbi’s tactical blueprint
