Senegal national football team don show serious defiance for Confederation of African Football (CAF) decision wey strip dem of dia Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title. For Saturday match wey dem play against Peru for Stade de France for Paris, Senegal players and coach Pape Bouna Thiaw carry the golden AFCON trophy parade for pitch before kickoff. The crowd wey full stadium nearly reach capacity dey cheer dem well-well as dem dey scoff CAF decision wey dem dey contest for Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Coach Pape Bouna Thiaw don talk before the match say “we know we’re African champions” and the team wear new strip wey get two stars above dia badge. The two stars represent success for AFCON for 2021 and again for this year 2025 final wey dem win against Morocco. But CAF Appeal Board don overturn that final result and declare Morocco as champions after Senegal players walk off pitch for 14 minutes during final for Rabat.
For the match itself, Senegal beat Peru 2-0 for international friendly wey serve as warm-up for 2026 World Cup wey go hold for Canada, Mexico and United States. Nicolas Jackson score first goal for 41st minute after brilliant run and assist from teenage starlet Ibrahima Mbaye. Ismaila Sarr add second goal for 54th minute after ball ricochet fall perfectly for im path. The victory na Senegal first win since January AFCON final.
Captain Kalidou Koulibaly lead the trophy parade celebration for front of 70,000 fans wey mostly na Senegalese diaspora wey dey Paris. Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and Koulibaly carry the trophy for presidential suite for safe keeping after the parade. Senegal social media channels share footage of the celebrations for first game since the controversial final for Rabat on January 18.
Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye talk after the match say “I think this decision is just ridiculous. We won the game on the pitch not in offices and as a Senegalese player I’m just proud of what we did. We deserve this trophy. We fight on the pitch and everyone knows what happened.”
Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) don describe CAF decision as “unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable” and dem don appeal to CAS for Lausanne. FSF Secretary General Abdoulaye Sow talk say dem no dey plan to return the trophy to CAF headquarters. “That’s not on the agenda, it doesn’t even cross our mind because I know that Senegal has the law on its side,” Sow tell AFO Media.
For the match statistics, Senegal dominate possession with 57% and create better chances throughout. Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese make several important saves but couldn’t stop the two goals. Senegal goalkeeper Mory Diaw also make crucial save from Adrian Quiroz shot for 87th minute wey hit crossbar.
Both teams use the friendly to test players ahead of World Cup. Senegal miss star forward Sadio Mane wey dey recover from ankle injury with im club Al-Nassr. Peru coach Mano Menezes try different players but the team struggle to find rhythm against organized Senegal defense.
CAS director general Matthieu Reeb talk say dem go rule on Senegal appeal “as swiftly as possible” while respecting right of all parties to fair hearing. The African football community dey watch closely as this case go set precedent for how football authorities handle protest during matches.
Senegal next match na against neighbors Gambia for Dakar on Tuesday where dem expected to again show the AFCON trophy for home supporters. The team confidence dey high as dem prepare for World Cup group stage matches. Peru dey continue dia preparation for World Cup qualifiers as dem try to improve dia performance after this defeat.
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