Senegal Didn't Take AFCON Trophy To Army Barracks

Senegal Didn't Take AFCON Trophy To Army Barracks

By BSN Sports 

Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) triumph was officially overturned on March 17 after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) upheld an appeal concerning the tournament’s January final, ultimately declaring Morocco as champions—a decision strongly criticised by Senegal, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

However, Reuter confirmed that viral images circulating online in connection with the ruling have been found to be misleading. The visuals are screenshots from a video recorded weeks before CAF’s decision, during nationwide celebrations marking Senegal’s initial victory.

The footage was originally published on February 8 via the national team’s official TikTok account, coinciding with a scheduled trophy tour across the country. According to the Senegalese Football Federation, the AFCON trophy was paraded through the northern city of Saint Louis on that day, culminating in a formal ceremony at the governor’s office attended by administrative, civil, and military officials.

Further verification by Reuters confirmed that individuals seen in camouflage uniforms in the video were members of a local military marching band. The same group had participated in earlier celebrations following Senegal’s on-field victory, as shown in local media coverage.

The trophy continued to make public appearances after the tour, most recently on March 28, when members of the Senegal national team carried it onto the pitch ahead of an international friendly against Peru in Paris.

At the time of reporting, the Senegalese Football Federation, CAF, and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation had not issued immediate responses to requests for comment.

Verdict: The claim is misleading. The video predates CAF’s decision to overturn Senegal’s AFCON victory and instead captures a moment from the country’s earlier trophy celebrations, including a ceremonial appearance by a military marching band at a regional government venue.