Paris just witnessed a moment of pure footballing rebellion. Despite being officially stripped of their continental title just ten days ago, the Senegal national team took to the pitch at the Stade de France yesterday to parade the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy anyway.
In what can only be described as a “come and get it” moment for the history books, captain Kalidou Koulibaly and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy led the squad in a defiant lap of honor before their friendly against Peru. The silverware was held high, the fans went wild, and the message was clear: as far as the Lions of Teranga are concerned, the trophy belongs in Dakar.
Why was Senegal stripped of the title?
If you missed the drama in January, the AFCON final in Rabat was nothing short of chaotic. With the match deadlocked at 0-0 in stoppage time, the referee awarded a controversial penalty to the hosts, Morocco. In a heat-of-the-moment protest, Senegal’s coach Pape Thiaw ordered his players off the field.
The team eventually returned after a 17-minute delay, Morocco missed the penalty, and Senegal went on to score a winner in extra time. However, CAF later ruled that the walk-off constituted a forfeit, overturning the 1-0 result into a 3-0 victory for Morocco.
A Two-Star Statement
The defiance didn’t stop with the parade. Senegal stepped onto the pitch wearing kits featuring two stars above their crest—one for their 2021 triumph and a second for the disputed 2026 title.
“We know we are the African champions,” Coach Thiaw told reporters after the match. “Trophies are won on the grass, not in an office. We won it on the pitch, and that is that.”
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has already filed a formal appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). While the legal battle in Switzerland could take months, the team certainly isn’t waiting for a verdict to celebrate. They backed up their bravado on the pitch, too, comfortably beating Peru 2-0 with goals from Nicolas Jackson and Ismaïla Sarr.
Whether this parade was a final farewell to the silverware or a declaration of war against the CAF ruling, one thing is certain: Senegal isn’t letting go of their crown without a fight.
