Senegal's national football team paraded the Africa Cup of Nations trophy before a friendly match against Peru at the Stade de France on Saturday, April 12, 2026. This public display came despite the Confederation of African Football (CAF) stripping Senegal of the 2025 tournament title earlier in April.
The governing body confirmed the decision on April 3, 2026, after a disciplinary panel found Senegal had fielded an ineligible player during the tournament. CAF rules state that a player must not have been suspended for the match in question. The specific player and match involved were not publicly detailed in the final ruling.
Following the disqualification, CAF officially declared Morocco, the tournament's runner-up, as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations champion. The Senegalese Football Federation has stated it will appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The trophy parade before the friendly match, which ended in a 1-1 draw, was seen by many observers as a defiant gesture by the Senegalese team and its supporters, who continue to celebrate the on-field victory despite the subsequent administrative sanction.
