PARIS—Senegal defiantly displayed the Africa Cup of Nations trophy to their supporters on Saturday earlier than happening to beat Peru 2-0 of their World Cup warm-up recreation on the Stade de France.
Nicolas Jackson scored 4 minutes earlier than halftime and Ismaila Sarr added a second within the 54th as Senegal received their first recreation since January’s Cup of Nations closing, after they beat Morocco solely to be stripped of the title this month.
The Confederation of African Soccer’s Attraction Board awarded Morocco the Cup of Nations title after Senegal had staged a 14-minute stroll off in the course of the closing in Rabat, a call that Senegal is contesting on the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport.
An hour earlier than kick off in Paris on Saturday, Senegal’s gamers and coach Pape Bouna Thiaw walked across the pitch with the trophy to a delirious reception from a near-capacity crowd as they continued to scoff on the CAF resolution.
Thiaw had declared on Friday that “we all know we’re African champions” and the group wore a newly designed strip that includes two stars above their badge, representing success within the Cup of Nations in 2021 and once more this 12 months.
Jackson had a straightforward put-away for the primary aim after a storming run down the precise wing by Senegal’s teenage starlet Ibrahima Mbaye, taking on the attacking mantle with Sadio Mane absent.
Sarr latched onto a ricocheted ball that fell completely into his path however needed to energy previous two defenders earlier than scoring the second aim.
There was additionally a convincing win for the Ivory Coast as they hammered South Korea 4-0 at Stadium MK, north of London, on Saturday.
Like Senegal, the Ivorians are among the many 9 African nations who will compete on the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the US beginning in June.
Evann Guessand scuffed residence the primary aim within the thirty fifth minute after being arrange by debutant Martial Godo, who then scored the third himself from a rebound at a nook after 62 minutes.
In between, Simon Adingra introduced his return to the group with a rasping shot on the stroke of halftime to make it 2-0.
He had been omitted from the squad for the Cup of Nations in Morocco on the flip of the 12 months, the place the Ivorians have been defending their title however went out within the quarter-finals.
Defender Wilfried Singo, one other participant again within the squad, side-footed the fourth aim with the final kick of the sport.
The Ivorians subsequent face Scotland at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, whereas Senegal head residence to play neighbors Gambia in Dakar on Tuesday the place they’re anticipated to once more brandish the golden trophy in entrance of their residence assist.