Defiant Senegal parade AFCON trophy despite being stripped of title | OneFootball

Lions of Teranga celebrate Africa Cup of Nations success before Peru friendly win as they fight controversial CAF ruling

Senegal have defiantly paraded the Africa Cup of Nations trophy despite being stripped of the title.

Senegal won 2-0 in Paris thanks to goals in each half from Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, currently on loan at Bayern Munich, and Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr, though it was events before the game that captured the headlines.

The Senegal squad and head coach Pape Thiaw walked around the pitch displaying the AFCON trophy in triumph, before playing against Peru in their new kit that features two stars above the badge to represent both this year’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph and their first in Cameroon back in 2021.

It was another clear message of defiance from Senegal, who are fighting the decision made by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to overturn their 1-0 extra-time victory over hosts Morocco in the latest AFCON final.

Senegal’s players left the pitch in protest in the latter stages of that game in Rabat in January after Morocco were awarded a contentious stoppage-time penalty, which was missed by Brahim Diaz as his ‘Panenka’ attempt was saved by Edouard Mendy following a delay that lasted for 17 minutes before the Senegal players eventually returned.

Senegal went on to win 1-0 on the night thanks to an extra-time goal by Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye, but were stripped of the title by CAF earlier this month over that walk-off following an appeal by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) as they were deemed to have forfeited and Morocco belatedly awarded a 3-0 win.