Sports News of Tuesday, 31 March 2026

Source: www.punchng.com

Senegal to parade AFCON trophy again before Gambia friendly

Senegal players celebrate with the Africa Cup of Nations trophy after beating Morocco in the final Senegal players celebrate with the Africa Cup of Nations trophy after beating Morocco in the final

Defiant Senegal will parade the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 trophy in front of home fans on Tuesday during their international friendly against neighbours Gambia at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium.

The Senegalese Football Federation announced the schedule in an official programme for the friendly posted on its X handle.

The programme read, “14:00 — Gates open at Stade Abdoulaye Wade; 16:00 — Pre-match ceremony and live show featuring invited artists; 17:45 — Official presentation of the AFCON trophy; 18:00 — End of ceremony; and 19:00 — Kick-off: Senegal vs Gambia.”

The planned presentation marks Senegal’s continuing rejection of the Confederation of African Football’s controversial decision to strip them of the title.

The Teranga Lions had on Saturday also paraded the trophy during their World Cup warm-up match against Peru at Stade de France in Paris.

The trophy saga stems from the chaotic AFCON 2025 final on January 18 in Rabat, Morocco.

Senegal walked off the pitch in protest over a penalty awarded to the hosts before winning 1-0 in extra time.

CAF’s appeals board ruled on March 17 that Senegal had forfeited the match, awarding Morocco a 3-0 victory and the title.

Senegal condemned the decision as “unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable” and has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport seeking to have the ruling overturned.

Morocco, for its part, has declared the matter closed and expects Senegal to return the trophy.

The West Africans have so far refused, and the case remains pending at CAS.