Eighteen Senegalese football supporters are set to serve prison terms in Morocco after a court handed down sentences ranging from three months to one year over a chaotic pitch invasion during last month’s Africa Cup of Nations final.
The supporters were arrested following the January 18 final in Rabat, where Senegal defeated Morocco 1 0 in a tense and disorderly encounter. Authorities accused the group of violence against security forces and causing property damage during attempts to storm the pitch and throwing projectiles.
On Thursday, a Moroccan court convicted the 18 fans, imposing jail terms alongside fines of up to 545 dollars.
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The ruling has triggered outrage in Dakar.
Speaking before parliament, Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko described the situation as deeply troubling, suggesting the issue had gone beyond football.
“It seems this matter goes beyond the realm of sport, and that is regrettable,” he said.
Sonko added that Morocco’s handling of the case “does not honour” the long standing ties between Senegal and Morocco, two nations that often describe each other as friends and strategic partners.
He insisted Senegal had done everything within its power to secure the supporters’ release and indicated that Dakar could activate a bilateral agreement that allows for the mutual transfer of convicted citizens.
For now, however, the 18 fans remain bound for Moroccan prisons, turning what began as a heated football final into a diplomatic flashpoint with consequences far beyond the stadium.
