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Senegal has taken a bold stance in its ongoing dispute with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), officially adding a second star to its national team’s jersey despite the governing body’s decision to strip them of the AFCON 2025 title.
In another show of defiance, Senegal presented the AFCON trophy before a friendly match against Peru.
The addition of a second star symbolizes Senegal’s refusal to accept the CAF ruling, a country that has already filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to challenge the decision.
Coach Pape Thiaw reaffirmed the team’s stance, insisting that their achievement cannot be erased.
“We are champions, we know that we are African champions. We want to go after other trophies in the future. But we are clear: you win in the green rectangle and we have achieved it,” he said.
Veteran midfielder Gana Gueye echoed similar sentiments and emphasized the emotional significance of the win.
“The intense emotions we have experienced, nothing can replace them. We did not steal this result; we have been champions twice in recent years. We earned it on the field and we will try to fight off the field as well,” he said.
Senegal’s legal representative, Maître Seydou Diagne, confirmed that the country has followed due process in its appeal.
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“We have worked calmly, we have completed our procedures within the deadlines, we have assembled our international team calmly,” he told reporters.
He also questioned the legitimacy of Morocco’s claim to the title, stating:
“It is Morocco that proclaims itself champion. CAF has not done so yet. There is no provision in the framework that proclaims it.”
Diagne further warned of the broader implications of the case:
“If the CAS lets Morocco do what it is doing, imagine what will happen at the World Cup. We will no longer need to create soccer academies; let’s train good lawyers and we will solve it.”
The president of the Senegalese Football Federation, Abdoulaye Fall, described the situation as unprecedented and deeply worrying.
“The time is serious. We are witnessing an administrative delay, the most blatant in the history of our sport. This is a battle that goes beyond the green rectangle. It is about preserving the honor of our players, African football and our fans, victims of unjustified diplomatic blackmail,” he stated.
The case is now in the hands of the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the proceedings are expected to last between nine and twelve months under normal circumstances.
However, if an accelerated process requiring the agreement of all parties involved, including CAF and the Moroccan Football Federation, is approved, a verdict could be issued within two months.
As the legal battle unfolds, Senegal remains firm in its position, both symbolically and publicly, that they are the rightful African champions.
