Online Reporter
SENEGAL flew in the face of CAF’s decision to strip them of their AFCON win by parading their trophy ahead of an international friendly.
The Lions of Teranga played out a dramatic Afcon final against Morocco in January that ended in a significant controversy.
Minutes after denying a Senegal goal, the referee blew up for a foul on Brahim Diaz by West Ham star El Hadji Malick Diouf.
Senegal’s coach led his team off the field in protest of the decision, while captain Sadio Mane managed to drag the stars back onto the field for play to restart 17 minutes later.
Morocco missed the penalty through Diaz’s attempt at a panenka, before Senegal went on to win on the day and be crowned champions.
But in mid-March, Afcon governing body CAF upheld a challenge of the result from Morocco, who claimed that by vacating the field of play, Senegal broke the rules of the competition and forfeited the match. The result was summarily changed to a 3-0 victory for Morocco — who hosted the tournament — to crown them as belated champions 58 days after the match had been played.
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw received a five-game suspension and was also fined £72,360 for his role in the bizarre standoff.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has voiced its discontent with the decisions, lodging an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
They also announced earlier this week their intentions to carry on with their planned showcase of their trophy in Paris, ahead of an international friendly with Peru.
FSF president Abdoulaye Fall said: “Faced with what amounts to the most blatant and unprecedented administrative robbery in the history of our sport, the Senegalese Football Federation refuses to accept this as inevitable.
“Senegal will not bend the knee and will not compromise its values.
“Our fight now transcends the football pitch.”
And now that promise has come to pass, with the players — including Chelsea star Nicolas Jackson captain Idrissa Gueye — parading the silverware around the Stade de France on Saturday.
Fans who sympathise with Senegal’s situation were delighted to see the cheeky stunt.
One fan said:
“Senegal parading the AFCON trophy in Paris today is the level of pettiness I live for!”
Another added:
“I love this energy from Senegal they are not backing down.”
And a third fan gushed: “This is my kind of pettiness.”
And the good vibes continued after the side secured a 2-0 win over Peru in their friendly.
Jackson opened the scoring in the first half, with Crystal Palace‘s Ismaila Sarr adding the finishing touch early in the second period to seal the victory.—The Sun
