The Senegal national football team, the Lions of Teranga, displayed the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy at the Stade de France on Saturday, March 28, 2026. The presentation occurred ahead of a scheduled friendly match against Peru, which was ultimately canceled due to a waterlogged pitch.
The event took place despite an ongoing legal dispute initiated by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF). The FRMF has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) contesting the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) decision to award the hosting rights for the 2025 and 2027 AFCON tournaments to Guinea and Kenya, respectively, after Morocco withdrew its joint bid with Spain and Portugal for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Senegal, the defending champions from the 2023 edition, showcased the trophy as part of their pre-match activities. Captain Kalidou Koulibaly led the team onto the field with the cup before the match was called off. The Moroccan appeal focuses on the awarding of future tournaments and does not challenge Senegal's status as the current title holder.
CAF has maintained that its bidding process was fair and transparent. The CAS proceedings are ongoing, with no ruling issued as of March 31, 2026.
