Senegal’s national team drew gasps across the football world when they marched the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) trophy onto the pitch before kick‑off in a warm‑up friendly against Peru at the Stade de France in Paris, even though the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had officially taken the title from them and awarded it to Morocco following a controversial decision.

The original final in January saw Senegal beat host nation Morocco 1‑0 after extra time, but the match was marred by a 14‑minute period in which Senegal’s players walked off in protest at a penalty decision late in the game. CAF’s appeal board later judged that leaving the pitch breached its regulations and declared the match a 3‑0 win to Morocco, a ruling that has infuriated the Senegalese side and its supporters.

Hours before their friendly clash with Peru, captain Kalidou Koulibaly and his teammates stepped out for a lap of honour holding the contested trophy aloft to an appreciative crowd, a symbolic gesture underlining their belief that they remain the rightful champions of Africa. Senegal’s head coach Pape Thiaw reiterated that stance, saying:

“We know we’re African champions,”

And stressing that tournaments should be decided on the pitch rather than by administrative action, sentiments that have been echoed by players and officials alike as they pursue their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The friendly itself ended in a 2‑0 victory for Senegal, with Nicolas Jackson and Ismaïla Sarr among the scorers, adding a sporting gloss to an emotionally charged occasion for the team and its supporters.

The decision by CAF has sparked widespread debate across the football community, with critics arguing that overturning a result months after the final undermines the integrity of the competition and that Senegal’s on‑field performance should stand, while CAF officials maintain that rules must be applied even in high‑profile matches.

As the World Cup looms in June, both Senegal and Morocco have moved on to prepare for the global tournament, though the shadow of the Afcon controversy continues to influence discussions around African football governance and the legacy of this season’s most contentious final.