The Court of Appeal in Rabat has postponed the appeal hearing for 18 Senegalese football supporters convicted of hooliganism and vandalism during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The case relates to disturbances that occurred during the final match between Morocco national football team and Senegal national football team in the Moroccan capital. The court has rescheduled the appeal hearing for 30 March.
The supporters were previously sentenced to prison terms ranging from one to three years after being found guilty of involvement in acts of hooliganism and damage to stadium property during the match in Rabat.
According to reports from the trial, the disturbances began after the referee awarded a penalty to Morocco during the game. The decision sparked protests from Senegal’s players, who left the pitch for more than 15 minutes in response to the call, temporarily disrupting the match.
The interruption also triggered unrest among some supporters in the stands.
During the chaos, several fans attempted to storm the pitch at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. Authorities said the group damaged stadium facilities and used seats taken from the stands as weapons against security personnel.
Moroccan authorities later arrested several individuals linked to the incidents. The court subsequently handed down prison sentences to 18 Senegalese supporters after determining they were involved in acts of vandalism and violence.
Despite the convictions, the case has drawn criticism in Senegal, where officials have argued that the matter has escalated beyond a sporting dispute.
Ousmane Sonko described the situation as unfortunate and said relations between the two countries should not have deteriorated to such an extent.
“For two countries that consider themselves friends like Morocco and Senegal, things should not have escalated to this level,” he said.
Sonko also described the prison sentences as “regrettable” and indicated that Senegal’s government would continue efforts to secure the release of the detained supporters.
He added that authorities in Dakar would do “everything possible” to obtain the freedom of the 18 Senegalese nationals.
The prime minister also expressed hope that the case might ultimately be resolved through a royal pardon.
The postponement of the appeal means the supporters will remain in custody while the court reviews the case later this month.
The incident has drawn wider attention because of the close diplomatic and sporting ties between Morocco and Senegal. Both countries are considered influential footballing nations in Africa and have frequently competed against each other in major continental competitions.
As the legal process continues, the outcome of the appeal hearing in Rabat could play a significant role in determining whether the prison sentences handed down to the supporters will stand or be revised.
