Senegal parades AFCON trophy despite CAF stripping title
Senegal's Teranga Lions defiantly displayed the Africa Cup of Nations trophy before their friendly against Peru in Paris on Saturday, despite CAF officially stripping them of the 2025 title. Senegal originally won the January final against Morocco, but CAF's appeal board ruled 57 days later that Morocco should be declared 3-0 winners instead.
Senegal has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and has refused to return the physical trophy. In a clear act of protest, the team also added a second star to their kit, maintaining their stance as the rightful champions.
The move directly challenges CAF's authority and creates significant uncertainty over the official titleholder. With Senegal's CAS appeal pending, the trophy remains in their possession while Morocco is formally recognized by CAF as the winner.
This high-profile dispute highlights governance tensions within African football, though it carries no direct regulatory or financial impact on Nigerian supporters beyond the broader continental implications.