Soccer
Senegal parade AFCON trophy in Paris despite being stripped of crown
Senegal paraded the Africa Cup of Nations trophy ahead of their friendly against Peru in Paris on Saturday – despite being stripped of the crown.
The team’s players and staff showed off the trophy at the Stade de France as the row over the Confederation of African Football’s decision to award Morocco the title rumbles on.
CAF’s decision earlier this month came two months after the acrimonious conclusion to the tournament.
An appeal board determined the Senegal team had forfeited the final when they left the field in protest at a disputed penalty deep in stoppage time.
The walk-off, instigated by Senegal coach Pape Thiaw, led to a lengthy delay, and, when the game was belatedly restarted, Brahim Diaz saw his spot-kick saved by Edouard Mendy.
Pape Gueye went on to score the winning goal in extra time, but there was unrest in the crowd and recriminations in the aftermath.
Having studied the circumstances, the appeal board took the unprecedented step of reversing the result, awarding a 3-0 win to Morocco.
The Senegalese Football Federation has since appealed against the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
