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Senegal to Flaunt AFCON Trophy Despite CAF Ruling, Legal Battle Looms

Published by Samuel Ayomide on March 27th, 2026.

Senegal have announced plans to publicly parade the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy ahead of their international friendly against Peru in Paris this weekend, despite the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to overturn their title win.

The move comes amid an escalating dispute between the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) and CAF following a controversial ruling that awarded Morocco a 3–0 victory after the original final ended in dramatic circumstances.

The Lions of Teranga had initially been crowned champions after edging Morocco 1–0 in January’s final in Rabat. However, the match was overshadowed by late-game tension, including a disputed stoppage-time penalty and Senegal’s players leaving the pitch before the game formally concluded.

According to BBC Sport, CAF’s appeal board later ruled that Senegal breached competition regulations by abandoning the match, citing provisions that sanction teams for failing to complete fixtures without official approval.

In response, Senegal have taken their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which has confirmed receipt of the appeal and indicated that a decision will be delivered as quickly as possible.

FSF president Abdoulaye Fall struck a defiant tone while addressing journalists in Paris, insisting that the federation would not accept the ruling without a fight. As reported by ESPN Africa, Fall described the decision as deeply unjust and maintained that Senegal would continue to defend what it believes was a legitimate victory.

“This goes beyond football,” he said, adding that the country would stand firm rather than concede what he characterised as an unfair outcome.

Reflecting that stance, the federation has included a trophy parade in its pre-match programme for Saturday’s friendly at the Stade de France, a symbolic gesture underscoring its refusal to recognise CAF’s decision.

Meanwhile, Morocco’s football authorities had pushed for a review immediately after the final, arguing that Senegal’s actions disrupted the integrity of the game. The Guardian noted that while CAF’s disciplinary committee initially handed sanctions to both teams, Morocco pursued a stronger outcome, which ultimately led to the reversal of the result.

CAF’s appeal panel later ruled that Senegal violated key regulations governing match conduct, including provisions that penalise teams for leaving the field without the referee’s consent.

With both sides holding firm, attention now turns to CAS, whose verdict is expected to bring clarity to one of the most contentious episodes in recent African football history. Until then, Senegal’s planned trophy parade signals that the West African nation is not backing down from its claim to continental glory.