AFCON 2025
President of Bassirou Diomaye Faye has revealed that his request for a royal pardon for Senegalese supporters jailed in Morocco over violence linked to the 2025 AFCON final was rejected by King Mohammed VI.
Faye made the disclosure during a press briefing, stating that he had personally reached out to the Moroccan monarch in a formal appeal for clemency, while also commending Morocco for hosting the tournament.
“I asked the King of Morocco for forgiveness for our supporters,” he said.
He explained that Senegal explored several diplomatic and non-diplomatic channels to secure the release of the detained fans, including court processes and engagement with religious leaders.
“We tried every possible way, through courts, diplomacy, even religious channels like the Tijaniyya order, but nothing worked,” Faye said.
The Senegalese leader expressed frustration over the outcome, noting that repeated efforts had failed to change the situation. “If all of this changes nothing, what else can be done? If there is another way, let us be told,” he added.
The development comes after the Rabat Court of Appeal upheld convictions against 18 Senegalese supporters arrested during unrest at the AFCON final in January.
The court confirmed jail terms ranging from three months to one year, alongside monetary fines, and rejected defence requests to re-examine video evidence presented during trial.
Authorities said the evidence clearly showed incidents of rioting, pitch invasion, and attacks on security personnel during the chaotic final match.
Under the ruling, nine fans received one-year prison sentences and fines of MAD 5,000 ($500), six others were handed six-month sentences with reduced penalties, while three were sentenced to three months. A French national of Algerian origin also received a three-month term for throwing a bottle during the disturbance.
The arrests followed violent scenes in Rabat during the AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco, which escalated into disorder inside and outside the stadium. The aftermath also triggered disciplinary actions from football authorities, including sanctions linked to the events.
However, defence lawyers maintain that the convictions were unjust, arguing that some of those punished were wrongly implicated.
“Mistakes were made, and those truly responsible are in Senegal, not here,” defence lawyer Patrick Kabo said.
Several of the convicted individuals have also insisted they were not involved in violence, claiming they were caught in the chaos while trying to avoid danger inside the stadium.
