Moroccan court jails 19 Senegalese fans over AFCON 2025 final violence

A Moroccan court has sentenced 19 football fans to prison terms following violent scenes during the Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal. The hearing, which lasted more than five hours, ended with convictions for hooliganism, property damage, and violence at a sporting event.

The defendants, 18 Senegalese nationals and one French supporter, were arrested after chaos erupted when Senegalese fans attempted to storm the pitch in protest of a late penalty awarded to Morocco. Despite the controversy, Senegal went on to win the match 1-0.

Eleven of the accused received one-year prison sentences along with fines of $550, while four others were handed six-month terms and $218 fines.

The remaining four were sentenced to three months in prison and fined $130. The ruling sparked emotional reactions in court, with one defendant fainting and others refusing to comply with instructions to enter holding cells.

Family members insisted their relatives were innocent, while defense lawyers vowed to appeal what they described as excessively harsh judgments.

The public prosecutor argued for maximum penalties, citing damages estimated at more than $476,000. Diplomats from Senegal and France attended the hearing, underscoring the sensitivity of the case, which is unusual in Morocco for involving only foreign nationals.

The incident has added to the fallout from a final already marked by controversy. CAF fined both Morocco and Senegal $1 million and imposed bans, though Morocco has announced plans to appeal, claiming the sanctions are disproportionate.

The match itself was marred by Senegalese players briefly walking off the pitch, fans throwing chairs, and clashes with stewards before police intervened.

Despite the tensions, officials from both countries have since emphasized their ‘strong and historic’ ties, urging peace and fraternity to prevent the game from straining diplomatic relations.