An appeal hearing for 18 Senegalese football supporters jailed following violence at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in Morocco has been postponed until 30 March, a court in Rabat has said.
Diplomatic tensions are lingering as it stands as the AFCON fan convictions face appeal delay. Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has called sentences “regrettable” as court adjourns fan appeal.
The group had previously been sentenced to prison terms ranging from one to three years after being convicted of hooliganism and vandalism during the final match between Morocco and Senegal, which took place in the Moroccan capital.
The incidents occurred after a referee awarded a penalty to Morocco during the match, a decision that provoked anger among the Senegalese team.
Players protested the call and temporarily left the pitch for more than 15 minutes, disrupting the flow of the game and affecting Morocco’s performance.
The unrest spread to the stands, where some supporters attempted to enter the pitch.
Authorities say fans damaged facilities at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium and used seats as projectiles against security personnel.Despite evidence presented in court linking the supporters to acts of vandalism, the verdict has been strongly criticised by officials in Senegal, who argue that the issue has escalated beyond a sporting dispute.
Senegal’s government has taken an active interest in the case. Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko described the situation as deeply unfortunate and expressed concern over the severity of the sentences handed down to the fans.
“For two countries that consider themselves friends like Morocco and Senegal, things should not have escalated to this level,” he said, promising Dakar will do “everything possible” to secure the release of the fans.
He also characterised the prison terms as “regrettable” and indicated that Senegal would continue to pursue diplomatic efforts to resolve the matter.
Officials in Dakar have suggested that the case risks straining relations between the two nations, both of which have historically maintained friendly ties.
The Senegalese authorities have further indicated that they hope for a royal pardon that could lead to the release of the detained supporters.The postponement of the appeal means the 18 individuals will remain in custody while legal proceedings continue.
It is not yet clear whether the delay will affect the broader diplomatic discussions surrounding the case.The violence at the AFCON final has raised wider concerns about crowd control and security at major sporting events on the continent.
Incidents of hooliganism, while relatively rare at African international tournaments, have occasionally marred high-profile matches.
The Confederation of African Football has not publicly commented on the appeal delay, but the events surrounding the final have prompted renewed debate over disciplinary measures for both players and supporters involved in match-day disruptions.
As the new hearing date approaches, attention is likely to remain focused on both the legal outcome and the diplomatic efforts underway behind the scenes.
