Senegal stages bold trophy parade amid title controversy
Senegal staged a bold act of defiance at the Stade de France on Saturday, parading the Africa Cup of Nations trophy before their friendly against Peru, despite being officially stripped of the title, reports BritPanorama.
Captain Kalidou Koulibaly led his teammates onto the pitch carrying the silverware for a lap of honour in front of 70,000 supporters. He and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy then ascended to the presidential box to display the trophy.
The West African nation maintains it remains the champion following CAF’s decision earlier this month to overturn January’s final result, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory. Senegal has taken their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The dramatic final in Rabat on January 18 descended into chaos during stoppage time. With the score level at 0-0, Senegalese players abandoned the pitch in protest after the referee awarded the hosts a penalty in the 98th minute. Approximately 17 minutes of turmoil followed, with Senegal supporters attempting to storm the field. Former Liverpool star Sadio Mane eventually persuaded his teammates to resume play.
Upon their return, Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz stepped up to take the spot-kick but saw his effort saved by Mendy. The match progressed to extra time, where Pape Gueye struck the decisive goal to secure what Senegal believed was their second continental crown in five years. However, CAF’s appeal board delivered an unprecedented verdict 58 days later, ruling that Senegal had forfeited the match and declaring Morocco’s appeal both admissible and upheld.
A CAF spokesman confirmed the decision, stating, “the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final.” The ruling centred on Senegal’s conduct during the dramatic walkout, which CAF determined had breached Article 82 of its regulations. As a consequence, Morocco were handed a 3-0 victory and crowned continental champions, despite never having scored during the match.
Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye has been vocal in his condemnation of the ruling. He said, “I think this decision is just ridiculous. We won the game on the pitch not in offices, and as a Senegalese player I’m just proud of what we did. We deserve this trophy. We fight on the pitch, and everyone knows what happened; I think if you play 10 times this game we would win it 10 times.” CAS director general Matthieu Reeb has pledged that arbitration proceedings will be conducted “as swiftly as possible” while ensuring all parties receive a fair hearing.
Saturday’s fixture marks Senegal’s first outing since the controversial final, as they prepare for June’s World Cup, where they will face France, Norway, and either Bolivia or Iraq. The situation remains a poignant reminder of how the outcomes off the pitch can eclipse the battles fought on it.
