Senegal, who won the Africa Cup of Nations title in a controversial final against hosts Morocco in January, only to be stripped of their victory weeks later, paraded the trophy ahead of a friendly on Saturday against Peru at the Stade de France in Paris.
Senegal captain Kalidou Coulibaly and his teammates came out onto the pitch with the AFCON trophy for a lap of honour after a pre-match concert by Senegalese superstar Youssou Ndour.
Senegal this week formally contested the decision of the Confederation of African Football’s Appeal Board to take the title away from them.
They were ruled to have forfeited the final in Rabat on January 18 because they walked off the pitch in protest at a potentially decisive penalty awarded to Morocco, but have now referred the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Senegal coach Pape Bouna Thiaw on Friday said there was no doubt his side were African champions despite being stripped of the title this month and that tournaments should be won on the pitch.
Thiaw told reporters: “We know we're African champions.”
