In a significant gesture of goodwill, Senegalese fans who found themselves imprisoned following violent incidents during the CAN 2025 final in Rabat returned to Senegal early Sunday morning. This return was made possible after they were granted a royal pardon by King Mohammed VI of Morocco on Saturday, which was described as being for "humanitarian reasons." This act of clemency was particularly poignant given the longstanding fraternal ties that exist between Morocco and Senegal, especially as both nations prepared to celebrate Aïd al-Adha, which is set to take place on Wednesday in Morocco.
On January 18, during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) final, Senegal emerged victorious with a narrow 1-0 win in what was described as a chaotic match. The game was marred by a controversial late penalty awarded to Morocco, occurring just after a goal had been disallowed for Senegal. This situation led to tension on the field, prompting several Senegalese players to leave the pitch and fans to attempt to enter the field, resulting in the throwing of projectiles.
Legal Consequences and the Path to Freedom
Initially, in February, Moroccan authorities had sentenced 18 Senegalese supporters to prison terms ranging from three months to one year on charges of hooliganism, which included violent acts against law enforcement during the final. Their arrests had sparked discussions regarding the diplomatic friendship between Rabat and Dakar. By mid-April, three of those supporters had been released after serving their three-month sentences, while the royal pardon this past Saturday effectively granted freedom to the remaining fifteen. The royal statement emphasized that this decision reflects the deep bonds of friendship, brotherhood, and cooperation that unite Morocco and Senegal.
The freed supporters arrived at Blaise Diagne Airport in Diamniadio, on the outskirts of Dakar, shortly after 1 AM local time, where they were met with a warm welcome from Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and members of the Senegalese Football Federation. President Faye expressed immense joy at their return, proudly declaring that the Lions are "the champions of Africa for the second time," despite the title dispute currently pending before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). He also took the opportunity to thank the Moroccan authorities for their royal pardon, especially in light of the upcoming Tabaski festival.
The Power of Football to Unite
Patrice Motsepe, the president of the African Football Confederation (CAF), praised the king's decision, highlighting it as a "motivating illustration of the power of football to unite and bring our peoples together across Africa and the world." The legal actions taken against the supporters were primarily based on video evidence from the Moulay-Abdellah Stadium and medical reports from injured law enforcement officials and stadium security. The Moroccan prosecution had estimated damages from the incident at over €370,000.
In February, during an official visit to Rabat, former Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko expressed regret over the tensions that had arisen between Moroccan and Senegalese fans, emphasizing that such incidents should not occur between two nations that consider themselves friends. The Moroccan king lamented the "unfortunate incidents and deplorable actions" during the final but remained confident that once the passion subsided, the inter-African fraternity would naturally prevail.
At the end of January, CAF imposed a series of disciplinary sanctions on both federations for unsportsmanlike conduct and violations of fair play principles. In mid-March, the CAF Appeals Jury controversially stripped Senegal of the title and awarded it to Morocco, prompting Senegal to appeal to the CAS. Despite these setbacks, the enduring friendship and cooperation between Dakar and Rabat remain strong, with significant ties in tourism, energy, education, infrastructure, and transportation. Notably, Senegalese nationals represent the largest foreign community in Morocco, accounting for 18.4% of foreign residents, according to the High Commission for Planning (HCP).
As reported by eurosport.fr.
