Senegal staged a defiant display of the Africa Cup of Nations trophy at the Stade de France on Saturday, parading the championship hardware before their 2-0 friendly victory over Peru despite being officially stripped of the title by African football authorities.
The dramatic gesture came just over a week after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) reversed Senegal's original 1-0 victory over Morocco in January's final, instead awarding the hosts a 3-0 win and the continental championship. The controversial decision followed Senegal's 14-minute walkoff during the final in Rabat after protesting a penalty awarded to Morocco.
Captain Kalidou Koulibaly led his teammates in a lap of honor with the trophy before nearly 70,000 spectators, with the players and coach Pape Bouna Thiaw receiving a thunderous reception from the crowd. The trophy was then ceremonially placed in the presidential box alongside Abdoulaye Fall, president of the Senegalese Football Federation.
we know we're African champions
Pape Bouna Thiaw, Senegal coach โ ABC News Australia
The team's defiance extended to their kit design, which now features two stars above the national badge representing their claimed victories in 2021 and 2026. The symbolic gesture underscores Senegal's rejection of CAF's ruling and their intention to fight the decision through legal channels.
France 24 presents the story factually, focusing on the ceremonial aspects of the trophy parade and the timeline of CAF's controversial decision. The outlet emphasizes the spectacle at the Stade de France while noting the ongoing legal dispute.