Senegal’s national football team showcased the Africa Cup of Nations trophy to thousands of fans on Saturday, defying the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) controversial decision to strip the country of the title and award it to Morocco.
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Ahead of a friendly against Peru at the Stade de France, Senegalese players, led by captain Kalidou Koulibaly, took to the pitch with the trophy in a pre-match celebration. The Senegalese Football Association (FA) had planned the event to honor fans in Saint-Denis, home to a large Senegalese diaspora.
CAF’s appeals board overturned Senegal’s 1-0 extra-time victory, citing that the team left the field in protest during Morocco’s awarded penalty, resulting in a 15-minute stoppage. The ruling handed a 3-0 default win to Morocco.
Senegal FA president Abdoulaye Fall denounced the decision as “the most grossly unfair administrative robbery in the history of football” and confirmed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland. The team is seeking an expedited resolution, ideally within two months, and the Senegalese government has called for an international investigation into alleged corruption within CAF.
In a symbolic move, Senegal also played in a kit featuring two stars above their badge, representing their two AFCON titles, emphasizing their claim to the championship.
