Morocco AFCON Final Violence: Senegalese Fans Released

By Angu Lesley

Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon

Three Senegalese football supporters have been released from prison in Morocco after serving three-month sentences linked to violence during the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat earlier this year.

The men were freed on Saturday from Al Arjat 2 prison, located northeast of Rabat, before being transported by gendarmerie officers to a police station near Salé for final processing. They were later received by officials from the Senegalese embassy. Witnesses said the trio appeared relaxed, with one expressing appreciation in Moroccan Arabic as they left custody.

Their convictions stemmed from disorder that erupted during the January 18 final between Senegal and Morocco. Authorities charged multiple individuals with hooliganism, including acts of violence against security forces, destruction of stadium property, pitch invasion, and throwing projectiles. A French national of Algerian origin, detained for similar offences, was also released after completing a three-month sentence.

However, the legal consequences are ongoing for others involved. Fifteen additional Senegalese supporters remain imprisoned, serving sentences ranging from six months to one year, which were upheld on appeal earlier this week.

The unrest followed a series of controversial refereeing decisions late in the match. A penalty awarded to Morocco—shortly after a Senegalese goal had been disallowed—sparked outrage among players and fans. Senegal’s players briefly walked off the pitch as tensions escalated in the stands, with some supporters attempting to enter the field.

Order was eventually restored, and the match resumed. Moroccan forward Brahim Díaz missed the decisive penalty, and Senegal secured a 1-0 victory in extra time through a goal by Pape Gueye.

The fallout has extended beyond the pitch. Following a subsequent decision by the Confederation of African Football to award the hosting rights for the 2025 AFCON tournament to Morocco, Senegal lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, signalling that tensions between the two footballing nations remain unresolved.