Senegal were made to parade the Africa Cup of Nations trophy on Saturday before being ordered to return it, ahead of their friendly against Peru at the Stade de France in Paris.
The decision followed a ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which overturned Senegal’s 1-0 win over Morocco in the final played in Rabat on January 18. CAF instead awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory after determining that Senegal breached regulations during the match.
Before kickoff, captain Kalidou Coulibaly led his teammates onto the pitch with the trophy, taking part in a lap of honour after a pre-match performance by Senegalese music icon Youssou N’Dour. Coulibaly and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy later placed the trophy in the presidential box in front of football officials, including Senegal Football Federation president Abdoulaye Fall.
The controversy stems from the dramatic final, which saw Senegalese players briefly walk off the pitch in protest after a late penalty was awarded to Morocco. Captain Sadio Mane eventually persuaded his teammates to return. Morocco missed the penalty, and Senegal went on to win through an extra-time goal by Pape Gueye.
However, CAF ruled that leaving the pitch without the referee’s permission violated competition rules, leading to the reversal of the result.
Senegal have since challenged the decision and filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), maintaining their hope of reclaiming the title.
Despite the controversy, the atmosphere in Paris remained lively, with tens of thousands of fans—mostly Senegalese—filling the stadium. Supporters had earlier gathered in the streets, celebrating with music and chants before heading to the venue.
The friendly against Peru marked Senegal’s first outing since the disputed final, as the team continues preparations for the upcoming World Cup, where they are set to face France, Norway, and either Bolivia or Iraq.
