In an act of defiance ahead of their 2-0 win over Peru at the Stade de France, Senegal’s players and coach Pape Bouna Thiaw paraded the Africa Cup of Nations trophy around the pitch to a roaring near-capacity crowd, days after CAF’s Appeal Board controversially awarded the title to Morocco, citing Senegal’s 14-minute walkout during the January final. The Lions of Teranga even debuted a new jersey featuring two stars—one for each AFCON title. Despite the dispute, the team played with confidence, winning the game by two goals. Senegal’s display sends an unmistakable message to CAF that they are not ready to relinquish the trophy. In the meantime, they have filed an appeal against the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the highest judicial authority for sports.
Reuters
