The Senegal national team on Saturday paraded the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy.
Senegal paraded the 2025 AFCON trophy at the Stade de France, France on Saturday to celebrate their continental title.
The squad made the bold move to parade the AFCON trophy in France ahead of their international friendly against Peru, directly challenging a recent administrative verdict from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
CAF on March 17 had reversed Senegal’s 1-0 final victory over Morocco in Rabat on January 18 and awarded a 3-0 victory to the hosts.
CAF explained that the verdict was reached due to Senegal’s decision to walk away from the pitch for about 15 minutes.
The continental body ruled that Senegal’s players had broken the rules by leaving the field without the referee’s permission.
Subsequently, CAF updated its website, listing Morocco as the winner for the 2025 AFCON title. Senegal was listed as the runner-up while the Super Eagles of Nigeria were listed to have come third at the 2025 AFCON tournament.
However, the Senegalese Football Federation lodged an appeal against the CAF decision with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Wednesday and has not given up on keeping the title.
CAS has acknowledged the appeal, announcing that Senegal’s appeal against CAF is seeking to overturn its ruling and be recognised as the rightful winner of the tournament.
CAS said an arbitral panel will be constituted to hear the case, after which a procedural timetable will be set. Under its rules, the appellant has 20 days to file detailed arguments, while the respondents have another 20 days to respond. However, no timeline has been fixed due to Senegal’s request to suspend proceedings.
Meanwhile, the Senegalese players, led by captain Kalidou Koulibaly, emerged from the tunnel clutching the trophy, much to the delight of the thousands of supporters gathered in the Saint-Denis suburb of Paris.
Coulibaly and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy went up to the stadium’s presidential box to place the trophy there in front of Abdoulaye Fall, the president of the Senegalese Football Federation, among others.
Thousands of Senegalese supporters, alongside Peruvian fans, were already in the Stade de France by the time the players showed off their trophy.
Bally Bagayoko, the newly elected mayor of Saint-Denis, also briefly joined the procession.
“Welcome to Saint-Denis,” said the mayor. “I wanted to thank everyone who organised this wonderful initiative.
“You are the pride of the residents of working-class neighbourhoods. We have often been discriminated against and looked down upon.
“You are showing that you are capable, at such an important moment, of coming together. Today, Africa is united. Everyone behind Senegal.”
The friendly against Peru was due to be the Lions of Teranga’s first match since the Africa Cup of Nations final.
They are preparing for the World Cup where they have been pitted in a group with France, Norway, and either Bolivia or Iraq.
