Senegal’s President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has revealed that his personal request to King Mohammed VI of Morocco for a royal pardon for Senegalese supporters was denied.
The fans were jailed following violent incidents during the chaotic 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final. In a press conference, Faye explained that he had written to the King both to congratulate him on hosting the tournament and to request clemency for the detained supporters.
“I asked the King of Morocco for forgiveness for our supporters,” Faye stated, noting that the government had exhausted multiple avenues to secure their release.
“We tried every possible way, through courts, diplomacy, even religious channels like the Tijaniyya order, but nothing worked. If all of this changes nothing, what else can be done? If there is another way, let us be told.”
The appeal followed the Rabat Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold the convictions of 18 Senegalese supporters.
The court confirmed prison terms ranging from three months to one year, along with fines, while rejecting defense requests to review specific video evidence. Judges ruled that the facts of the case, which included rioting, pitch invasions, and attacks on security forces, were “already clear and widely documented.”
The sentencing breakdown includes one-year terms and $500 fines for nine fans, six-month terms for six others, and three-month sentences for three supporters.
A French national of Algerian origin was also sentenced to three months for throwing a bottle. The arrests occurred during clashes in Rabat during the final between Morocco and Senegal, a match that ultimately saw Morocco awarded the title by CAF’s Appeals Board after Senegal’s walk-off was ruled a breach of regulations.
Defense lawyer Patrick Kabo maintained that the legal system failed to identify the correct perpetrators, stating, “Mistakes were made, and those truly responsible are in Senegal, not here.”
Despite these claims and denials from the accused, the Moroccan court maintained that the violence and disorder inside the stadium were supported by sufficient proof.
