“It’s not a given, it’s been won,” says Kalidou Koulibaly in response to CAF’s decision

The captain of the Senegal national team has reaffirmed the legitimacy of the Lions of Teranga’s victory in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.

Kalidou Koulibaly has broken his silence following the bombshell decision by the African Football Confederation’s Appeal Panel. In a post on his Instagram account on Thursday 19 March, the captain of the Senegal national team made it clear that his team had been crowned champions with honour on the pitch.

This was a direct response to the CAF’s verdict, which decided to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and award it to Morocco two months after the final played in Rabat. For Koulibaly, this trophy was earned on the pitch, through collective effort and sacrifice.

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