Senegal to Parade AFCON 2025 Trophy at Home Amid CAF Dispute

Senegal to Parade AFCON 2025 Trophy at Home Amid CAF Dispute

Senegal will showcase the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 trophy to home fans on Tuesday during their international friendly against neighbours Gambia at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium.

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The Senegalese Football Federation shared the event schedule on its X account: gates open at 14:00, followed by a pre-match ceremony and live performances at 16:00. The official presentation of the AFCON trophy is set for 17:45, with the match kick-off at 19:00.

The presentation underscores Senegal’s defiance of the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) controversial ruling that stripped them of the title. The Teranga Lions had also paraded the trophy during their World Cup warm-up match against Peru at Stade de France in Paris on Saturday.

The controversy dates back to the chaotic AFCON 2025 final on January 18 in Rabat, Morocco, when Senegal walked off the pitch in protest over a penalty awarded to the hosts. Senegal had won 1-0 in extra time, but CAF’s appeals board ruled on March 17 that Senegal forfeited the match, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory and the championship.

Senegal condemned the decision as “unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable” and has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), seeking to overturn the ruling. Morocco maintains that the matter is closed and expects Senegal to return the trophy. The West African side has refused, leaving the dispute pending at CAS.

Senegal to Parade AFCON 2025 Trophy at Home Amid CAF Dispute