CAF officials unhappy with Senegal’s AFCON trophy parade in Paris amid ongoing dispute

There is growing unease within the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following Senegal’s decision to parade the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy ahead of their international friendly against Peru on Saturday.

AfricaSoccer.com has been told that several senior figures within the continental football body view the move as disrespectful to both African football and CAF’s leadership structures, particularly in light of the ongoing dispute over the tournament’s final outcome.

At the heart of the controversy is the ruling by CAF’s Appeal Committee, which overturned Senegal’s initial triumph and declared Morocco as 3-0 winners. That decision effectively stripped Senegal of official recognition as African champions, making their public display of the trophy a contentious act.

CAF insiders are said to be concerned that taking the trophy onto the pitch under such circumstances undermines the authority of its judicial processes. With a formal verdict already delivered, some officials believe Senegal’s actions risk setting a troubling precedent if left unchecked.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that the matter has now been escalated to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), where Senegal is seeking to overturn the ruling. Within CAF, there is a strong feeling that celebrating or making symbolic claims to the title while the case remains unresolved is inappropriate.

Despite the backlash, Senegal’s stance appears rooted in its belief that the Appeal Committee’s decision was flawed. By parading the trophy, the West African nation is not only reaffirming its position but also signalling confidence in a favourable outcome at CAS.

For now, the episode has added another layer of tension to an already complex dispute, with African football authorities watching closely as the case heads toward its final resolution.