Senegal Parade AFCON Trophy in Defiant Display After Title Revocation

Senegal staged a defiant show of pride on Saturday by parading the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy, despite being stripped of their title earlier this month following a controversial ruling.

The West African nation, who initially claimed victory in January’s heated final against Morocco, carried out a lap of honour with the trophy ahead of their international friendly against Peru at the Stade de France in Paris. Captain Kalidou Coulibaly led his team-mates onto the pitch following a pre-match performance by renowned Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour.

Controversial Decision Sparks Legal Battle

Senegal have since launched a legal challenge after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) overturned the result of the final and awarded Morocco a 3–0 victory on 17 March.

The decision followed a dramatic incident during the final in Rabat, where Senegal staged a 14-minute walk-off in protest. The protest came after a penalty was awarded to Morocco in stoppage time, moments after Senegal had a goal disallowed.

Although Morocco had originally lost the match 1–0, CAF’s appeal board ruled in their favour, handing the title to the Atlas Lions — a decision Senegal strongly disputes.

“We Know We’re Champions” – Thiaw

Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw insisted there is no doubt about his side’s status as African champions, maintaining that titles should be decided on the pitch.

“We know we’re African champions,” Thiaw said, speaking publicly for the first time since the ruling.

He urged his players to remain focused amid the controversy, as Senegal pursue further action by appealing to the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“The most important thing is not to get distracted,” Thiaw added. “Competitions and trophies are won on the pitch. We’ve done that — we are African champions.”

Despite his involvement in the walk-off, which led to heavy sanctions, Thiaw will remain in charge for Senegal’s upcoming fixtures, including their World Cup campaign in June.

Morocco Move Forward Amid Dispute

Morocco, meanwhile, appear determined to move beyond the controversy. They played out a 1–1 draw with Ecuador in a friendly in Madrid on Friday — their first outing since being awarded the AFCON title.

Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou declined to engage in the debate surrounding the decision.

“We’re focused on what lies ahead and not getting into that,” he said. “The federation has already responded, and we are looking forward.”

The match also marked the first game in charge for head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, as Morocco begin preparations for the 2026 World Cup.

High Expectations for Atlas Lions

Morocco’s rise on the global stage — highlighted by their historic run to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar — has raised expectations significantly.

Despite the ongoing dispute, attention within Moroccan football has largely shifted towards future competitions, including this summer’s World Cup campaign.

Ecuador head coach Sebastián Beccacece described his side’s result as a draw against the “African champions”, underlining the lingering ambiguity surrounding the title.

Morocco, officially unbeaten in 25 matches, showed moments of promise against Ecuador but lacked clinical edge in attack. However, Ouahbi remained confident in his squad’s quality.

“We are a top-level team,” he said. “Teams of this level do not have weaknesses — only areas to improve collectively.”

Focus Turns to World Cup Clash

Morocco are set to face Brazil in one of the standout fixtures of the group stage on 13 June, in what promises to be a major test of their credentials.

Meanwhile, the legal dispute over the AFCON title continues in the background, with Senegal determined to reclaim recognition as rightful champions.

For now, however, both nations appear focused on the future — with Morocco preparing to defend their newly awarded status, and Senegal intent on proving their worth where it matters most: on the pitch.