Senegal have announced plans to parade the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy ahead of their international friendly against Peru in Paris on Saturday, despite being stripped of the title by the Confederation of African Football.
The Lions of Teranga had originally secured their second AFCON crown on January 18 after defeating Morocco national football team 1-0 after extra time in a final marred by controversy. However, CAF later overturned the result, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory following Senegal’s walk-off during the match.
On Tuesday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed receipt of Senegal’s appeal against the decision, stating it would deliver a ruling “as swiftly as possible”.
Speaking at a press conference in Paris, Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) President Abdoulaye Fall strongly rejected the ruling, describing it as unjust.
“Faced with what amounts to the most blatant and unprecedented administrative robbery in the history of our sport, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) refuses to accept this as inevitable,” Fall said.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, FSF has included a trophy parade in the programme of events surrounding Saturday’s friendly at the Stade de France.
“Senegal will not bend the knee and will not compromise its values,” Fall added. “Our fight now transcends the football pitch.”
The controversy stems from chaotic scenes during the final in Rabat, where Senegal players briefly left the pitch in protest after a late penalty was awarded to Morocco while the game remained goalless. Although Moroccan forward Brahim Diaz later missed the penalty, Senegal went on to win 1-0 in extra time.
Following the match, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) filed a complaint with CAF and FIFA, arguing that Senegal’s actions disrupted the match. While CAF’s disciplinary committee initially dismissed the appeal and sanctioned both teams, the appeal board later ruled that Senegal had breached Articles 82 and 84 of the competition regulations.
Article 82 stipulates that any team that leaves the field without the referee’s authorisation is deemed to have forfeited the match, leading to the subsequent reversal of the result.
Senegal’s government has since called for an investigation into “suspected corruption” within CAF, an allegation dismissed by CAF President Patrice Motsepe, who emphasised the independence of the appeal process.
“It is important that the decisions of our CAF disciplinary board and the CAF appeals board are viewed with respect and integrity,” Motsepe said.
The final determination of the 2025 AFCON champions now rests with CAS, sport’s highest judicial authority.
“To wage this moral and legal crusade, we have appointed a team of seasoned professionals with undeniable expertise,” Fall said, alongside members of the FSF legal team.
Lawyer Seydou Diagne described the ruling as “so blatant, so absurd, so irrational,” adding that, “The decision of the appeals jury cannot even be considered a true decision of sporting justice.”
Another legal representative, Juan Perez, also criticised the decision, stating: “A match that was over, whose result had been decided by the referee, now being re-refereed, administratively—that’s unprecedented. You haven’t seen anything like it. It could change the world of football.”
While CAF briefly updated its records to list Morocco as champions, the page has since been taken down, further highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the outcome.
With Senegal refusing to relinquish the trophy and proceeding with plans for a public parade, the dispute over the 2025 AFCON title remains unresolved.
