Teranga Lions Push Back After CAF Decision, Plan Trophy Celebration Ahead of Friendly
Senegal plans to publicly parade the Africa Cup of Nations trophy even though the Confederation of African Football recently stripped the team of its 2025 AFCON title and awarded it to Morocco.
Senegalese football authorities have stated that the team will proceed with the trophy march ahead of a scheduled friendly match against Peru in Paris, a move indicating their rejection of what it term as controversial ruling. The parade is planned even though CAF’s appeal board ruled earlier this month that the team forfeited the AFCON final by temporarily walking off the pitch in protest during a disputed refereeing decision, a ruling that saw the 1–0 on‑field victory overturned and Morocco declared champions.
Officials from the Senegalese Football Federation have denounced CAF’s decision as “unfair, unacceptable and unprecedented” and are mounting a legal fight at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland. They also argue that CAF has not explained or justified its stripping of the title and that there has been no formal order requiring Senegal to return the trophy or medals.
At a Paris press conference, members of Senegal’s legal team insisted the nation remains “African champions” in spirit, describing their upcoming trophy parade as an act of defiance and solidarity with fans who view the CAF ruling as controversial and unjust.
Senegal now awaits the outcome of its CAS appeal while preparing to celebrate what many fans and officials still see as their triumph on the field.
