Senegal Parade Disputed AFCON Trophy at Stade de France in Defiant Show Against Peru

Senegal turned their friendly against Peru into a powerful act of defiance on Saturday night at the Stade de France in Paris. Captain Kalidou Koulibaly led his teammates on a lap of honour, raising the Africa Cup of Nations trophy high before a roaring crowd of thousands of Senegalese fans. The players later carried the silverware to the presidential box and placed it before officials of the Senegalese Football Federation.

The move was no coincidence. It came weeks after the Confederation of African Football stripped Senegal of the 2025 title won in controversial fashion against hosts Morocco in Rabat. CAF’s appeals board ruled the Lions of Teranga forfeited the final after briefly walking off the pitch in protest over a late penalty award. Morocco were handed a 3-0 victory instead.

NaijaChoice News reports that the Senegalese camp has refused to accept the ruling quietly. The team lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport and made their position clear on the pitch. Coach Pape Bouna Thiaw had declared ahead of the Peru game that “we know we are African champions,” and the squad even wore a new kit featuring two stars above the badge to mark their claimed successes.

Legendary musician Youssou Ndour set the tone with a rousing pre-match performance that had fans on their feet. Outside the stadium, thousands from the Senegalese diaspora in France marched through the streets of Saint-Denis, beating drums and waving flags in a carnival-like show of support. Saint-Denis mayor Bally Bagayoko told the players they represented the pride of working-class communities and had the backing of the entire African continent.

The match itself marked Senegal’s first outing since the AFCON final. Nicolas Jackson opened the scoring four minutes before half-time, and Ismaila Sarr added a second early in the second half as the Lions of Teranga beat Peru 2-0. The result served as a useful warm-up as the team shifts focus towards the 2026 World Cup.

Across West Africa, the episode has drawn attention from football stakeholders. Many Nigerian fans, who follow Senegalese football closely given the regional rivalry and shared ambitions, see the saga as a test of CAF’s fairness. With the Super Eagles also preparing for World Cup qualifiers, the outcome of Senegal’s CAS appeal could have wider implications for how disputes are handled on the continent.

Whatever the final verdict from the arbitration court, one thing is clear: the Lions of Teranga and their supporters have drawn a line in the sand. Saturday’s scenes in Paris showed they are ready to fight their case both on and off the pitch.