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Nicolas Jackson scored four minutes before half-time and Crystal Palace star Ismaila Sarr added a second in the 54th as Senegal won its first game since January’s AFCON final, when it beat Morocco only to be stripped of the title this month.

The Confederation of African Football’s Appeal Board awarded Morocco the Cup of Nations title after Senegal had staged a 14-minute walk off during the final in Rabat, a decision that Senegal is contesting at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

An hour before kick-off in Paris, Senegal’s players and coach Pape Bouna Thiaw walked around the pitch with the trophy to a delirious reception from a near-capacity crowd as they continued to scoff at the CAF decision.

Thiaw had declared on Saturday (AEDT) that “we know we're African champions” and the team wore a newly designed strip featuring two stars above their badge, representing success in the Cup of Nations in 2021 and again this year.

Jackson had an easy put-away for the first goal after a storming run down the right wing by Senegal’s teenage starlet Ibrahima Mbaye, taking over the attacking mantle with Sadio Mane absent.

Sarr latched on to a ricocheted ball that fell perfectly into his path but had to power past two defenders before scoring the second goal.

Senegal next heads home to play neighbour Gambia in Dakar on Wednesday (AEDT) where it is expected to again brandish the golden trophy in front of its home support.

"Presenting the trophy was a source of pride for us," Senegal winger Krepin Diatta said.

"[The fans] came to celebrate with us, they came to support their team. They came and showed us once again the pride of being Senegalese. For us, it was also a pleasure. It galvanised us to see this match through to the end and win it.

"As you've seen, the group is doing very, very well, despite the decision that was made.

"But we will always feel like African champions; no one can take that away from us. The whole world saw that Senegal had a very, very good tournament; our objective was to win this continental trophy. Now, today, we are proud to see our fans here celebrating with us, especially after this victory."

Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy added: "I don't see why it should be up to Senegal to take a step to fix anything. We went to Morocco and won that trophy one January evening.

"Then, another battle was fought on a different field, one that wasn’t ours. So, I don't see why Senegal, when it’s only focused on Senegal, should take a step to fix things."