Senegal displays AFCON trophy, dispute over 2025 title proceeds

Senegal’s national football team publicly paraded the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy ahead of a friendly match in France, despite having been stripped of the title earlier in the month, according to a report published by the BBC on 28 March.

The controversy stems from the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, where Senegal initially secured victory against Morocco. However, the outcome of the match was later overturned by the Confederation of African Football (Caf), which declared Morocco the official champions after reviewing an appeal filed by the Moroccan football federation.

The final itself was marked by a dramatic sequence of events. With the score level at 0-0 late in the match, hosts Morocco were awarded a penalty during stoppage time. In response to the referee’s decision, Senegal’s players left the field in protest, delaying the game for approximately 17 minutes. After returning to the pitch, Morocco failed to convert the penalty opportunity. Senegal then went on to score the decisive goal during extra time, initially securing the tournament victory.

Following the match, Morocco’s football authorities challenged the result, arguing that Senegal’s temporary withdrawal from the field constituted a violation of competition rules. Caf reviewed the incident and ultimately ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match. As a result, Morocco was awarded a 3-0 victory and were officially recognised as the winners of the tournament.

Senegal has contested this decision and has submitted an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas). The court has stated that it intends to issue a ruling on the matter as quickly as possible, leaving the final outcome of the dispute unresolved for now.

Despite the ongoing process, Senegal’s players chose to celebrate their original achievement. Before their match against Peru at the Stade de France, team captain Kalidou Koulibaly and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy carried the AFCON trophy onto the pitch for a ceremonial lap of honour. The players later placed the trophy in the stadium’s presidential box.

The match in Paris marked Senegal’s first appearance since the disputed final and forms part of their preparations for the upcoming World Cup, scheduled to begin in June. The team has been drawn into a group alongside France, Norway and either Bolivia or Iraq.

BBC, Maghrebi.org