Senegal made a bold statement ahead of their international friendly against Peru, parading the Africa Cup of Nations trophy despite being officially stripped of the title by CAF earlier this month.
The Lions of Teranga brought the trophy onto the pitch at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, with captain Kalidou Coulibaly leading his teammates in a lap of honour following a pre-match concert by Senegalese music icon Youssou Ndour. Coulibaly, alongside goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, later presented the trophy to officials in the presidential box, including federation president Abdoulaye Fall.
The symbolic gesture comes in the wake of CAF’s decision on March 17 to overturn Senegal’s 1-0 victory over Morocco in the AFCON final played in Rabat on January 18, instead awarding a 3-0 win to the hosts. The controversy stems from chaotic scenes late in that final, when Senegal players briefly walked off the pitch in protest after Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty.
Although the players eventually returned and went on to win the match in extra time through Pape Gueye’s decisive strike, CAF ruled that Senegal had breached competition regulations by leaving the field without the referee’s permission.
Senegal have since lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport and remain determined to reclaim the title, a stance clearly underlined by Saturday’s pre-match display.
The atmosphere in Saint-Denis reflected strong support for the West African side, with thousands of Senegalese fans joining a lively procession to the stadium earlier in the day. Around 70,000 spectators were expected for the fixture, as the team returned to action for the first time since the controversial final.
With preparations also underway for the upcoming World Cup, where Senegal will face France, Norway and either Bolivia or Iraq, the team continues to balance on-field focus with an ongoing legal battle that could yet redefine the outcome of the 2025 AFCON.
