Senegal’s national team has publicly asserted its claim to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, parading the trophy ahead of an international friendly in Paris despite the Confederation of African Football’s decision to award it to Morocco.
According to a report by The Guardian, captain Kalidou Koulibaly led the squad on a lap of honour with the trophy before their match against Peru at the Stade de France, following a performance by Senegalese music icon Youssou N’Dour.
The move comes after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on 17 March overturned Senegal’s 1–0 victory in the final and awarded Morocco a 3–0 win, citing a 14-minute walk-off by Senegalese players in protest against a late penalty decision.
Senegal has since filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), while Moroccan authorities maintain that the matter has been resolved.
Head coach Pape Thiaw insisted that his team remains the legitimate champion, emphasizing that titles are decided on the field of play.
“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,” he said.
Thiaw, who was central to the walk-off incident and faced sanctions, added that his focus is on keeping the team concentrated amid the ongoing dispute.
“The most important thing is not to get distracted,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Morocco played out a 1–1 draw with Ecuador in a friendly match in Madrid, marking the debut of new head coach Mohamed Ouahbi.
Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou indicated that the Moroccan team is focused on future competitions rather than 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.
With Morocco set to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, attention within the team has shifted toward preparations for the global tournament, even as the AFCON dispute awaits resolution at CAS.
