The controversy surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has taken a dramatic turn, with Morocco stepping up efforts to stop Senegal from publicly parading the disputed trophy in Paris.
Senegal had announced plans to showcase the AFCON trophy to fans during their international friendly against Peru at the Stade de France on March 28, despite the Confederation of African Football (CAF) overturning their earlier victory and awarding the title to Morocco.
Senegal had initially celebrated a 1-0 win over Morocco in the final on January 18, a match that ended in controversy after late-game drama disrupted play. However, CAF later reviewed the incident and reversed the result, handing Morocco a 3-0 win.
Rejecting the decision, Senegal has taken the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), insisting the title rightfully belongs to them.
Football federation president, Abdoulaye Fall, made it clear the dispute goes beyond football, vowing a continued fight against the ruling and maintaining plans to honour their “victory” in front of supporters.
In response, Moroccan legal representatives have issued formal warnings to event organisers in France, describing Senegal’s planned trophy parade as unlawful.
Mourad Elajouti revealed that notices were sent to both the Stade de France operators and event coordinators, warning of possible legal consequences if the parade proceeds.
The Moroccan side argues that CAF’s decision is binding and must be respected, even threatening urgent court action to seize the trophy and prevent its public display until the appeal process is concluded.
What began as a sporting controversy has now escalated into a legal and diplomatic standoff. While Morocco insists on enforcing CAF’s ruling, Senegal maintains that the trophy has not been formally withdrawn from them, strengthening their resolve to proceed with the parade.
With the CAS yet to deliver its verdict, tensions remain high, and the outcome could set a significant precedent for how football disputes are handled at the international level.
