Defiant Senegal display Afcon trophy before beating Peru in pre-World Cup friendly
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Senegal's Moussa Niakhate holding aloft the Africa Cup of Nations trophy before their 2-0 friendly win over Peru at the Stade de France on March 28, 2026.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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PARIS – Senegal defiantly displayed the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) trophy to their supporters on March 28, before going on to beat Peru 2-0 in their World Cup warmup game at the Stade de France.
Nicolas Jackson scored four minutes before half-time and Ismaila Sarr added a second in the 54th as Senegal won their first game since January’s Afcon final, where they beat Morocco only to be stripped of the title in March.
The Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) appeal board awarded Morocco the Cup of Nations title, after Senegal had staged a 14-minute walk-off during the final in Rabat, a decision that Senegal is contesting at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
An hour before kick-off in Paris on March 28, Senegal’s players and coach Pape Thiaw walked around the pitch with the trophy to a delirious reception from a near-capacity crowd as they continue to scoff at the CAF decision.
Thiaw had declared on March 27 that “we know we’re African champions” and the team wore a newly designed strip featuring two stars above their badge, representing success in the Cup of Nations in 2021 and again in 2026.
Senegal’s most capped player Idrissa Gueye had added: “As players, nothing can replace the intense emotions we experienced. In the last four Cup of Nations tournaments, Senegal has reached three finals and won two African championship titles.
“We didn’t steal this result... we deserve to be African champions on the field.”
Senegal's Ismaila Sarr (centre) celebrates scoring his team's second goal.
PHOTO: AFP
However, as far as new Afcon champions Morocco are concerned, the case is closed.
Morocco drew 1-1 with Ecuador on March 28 in a friendly in Madrid, in their first match since the final and the controversial decision to punish Senegal.
It was new coach Mohamed Ouahbi’s first game at the helm, less than three months before the 2026 World Cup.
After becoming the first African side to reach the final four in Qatar in 2022, expectations are high for Morocco and they are looking to the future, despite Senegal’s outrage.
“We’re focused on what’s to come and not getting into that (topic),” Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou told reporters.
“The answer from us (about whether the decision was fair) would be what our federation said and that’s all... we’re looking forwards.”
Thousands of Morocco fans, many draped in their country’s flag and tooting vuvuzelas, are convinced justice was served.
“If someone says there are regulations, you have to follow them,” said Yassine El Aouak, 35, a Morocco supporter who travelled to the game from Italy.
“I think we will bring the trophy home (eventually) – we know that we deserve it.”
Like the players, Moroccan media was more concerned with the upcoming World Cup and Ouahbi’s tactical approach than whether Senegal are right to feel aggrieved.
Ecuador’s coach Sebastian Beccacece said they were satisfied with a draw against the “African champions” after Morocco needed a late Neil El Aynaoui equaliser to cancel out John Yeboah’s opener.
Meanwhile, there was a convincing win for the Ivory Coast as they hammered South Korea 4-0 at Stadium MK, north of London, on March 28.
Like Morocco and Senegal, the Ivorians are among the nine African countries who will compete at the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the US starting in June.
The Ivorians’ goals came from Evann Guessand, Simon Adingra, debutant Martial Godo and Wilfried Singo. REUTERS, AFP
