Senegal Captain Refuses to Relinquish AFCON 2025 Trophy After CAF Ruling

Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly has issued a defiant response following the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) decision to strip the nation of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title, declaring that the trophy was won on the pitch and will not be relinquished.

The controversy stems from a ruling by CAF's Appeal Panel, which annulled Senegal's championship victory and awarded the title to Morocco.

The decision came two months after the final in Rabat, where Senegal staged a walkout. Kalidou Koulibaly broke his silence on the matter with a powerful statement on his Instagram account this Thursday.

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"The CAF Appeal Board decided that in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match... with the result of the Match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF)," CAF said in a statement.

In a direct challenge to the governing body's verdict, the veteran defender emphasised that the victory was earned through merit and collective effort.

His social media post conveyed a message of pride and resilience, rejecting the administrative decision to overturn the result.

"This trophy was earned on the pitch, through collective effort and sacrifice," Koulibaly's message stated, highlighting that the team's triumph was legitimate and achieved through their performance during the tournament.

His comments serve as a pointed rebuke to the panel's ruling, which was based on the team's dramatic protest during the final match.

Koulibaly left no doubt about his stance, asserting that no administrative action could invalidate what his team accomplished on the field. He made it clear that, from the players' perspective, the title belongs to Senegal.

"It wasn't handed to us; we won it," the captain declared. "They can look on, but I'm keeping it. The trophy is here. It's not going anywhere."

With these strong words, Koulibaly has drawn a line in the sand. As CAF stands by its revised outcome, the Senegalese skipper's firm position suggests that the dispute over the AFCON 2025 championship is far from over.