Bassirou Diomaye Faye has publicly thanked Mohammed VI after the release of Senegalese football supporters detained since the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat.
The supporters, who had been imprisoned following incidents surrounding the final on 18 January 2026, were freed after receiving a royal pardon from the Moroccan monarch ahead of the Eid al-Adha festival, widely known in West Africa as Tabaski.
The decision has been welcomed in both Senegal and Morocco as a strong diplomatic and humanitarian gesture reflecting the close historical relationship between the two Francophone African nations.
In a message posted on social media, President Faye confirmed that the supporters would soon return home to their families after months in detention.
“Our compatriots detained in Morocco following the incidents that occurred on the sidelines of the Africa Cup of Nations are free. They will soon be reunited with their families, thanks to the Royal Grace that His Majesty King Mohammed VI has graciously granted them on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.”
The Senegalese leader added: “I extend to His Majesty my sincerest thanks for this decision, marked by clemency and humanity. Senegal and Morocco share a long-standing fraternity, which this gesture, once again, honors.”
The release follows several months of legal proceedings after the supporters were arrested in connection with violence that erupted during and after the AFCON final hosted by Morocco.
The detainees had faced accusations linked to hooliganism, property damage and disturbances around the stadium during the tournament finale between Senegal and Morocco.
Their imprisonment had sparked concern among Senegalese supporters and public figures, with calls growing for diplomatic intervention and clemency.
President Faye later confirmed that he had personally appealed for leniency from Moroccan authorities.
The royal pardon was eventually announced only days before Eid al-Adha celebrations, a period traditionally associated across the Muslim world with forgiveness, solidarity and reconciliation.
Moroccan authorities also described the decision as being rooted in the “fraternal relations” linking Rabat and Dakar.
The case has drawn particular attention because of the deep political, religious and cultural connections between Senegal and Morocco, two countries that have maintained close cooperation for decades.
Football has often played an important role in strengthening those ties, especially as both nations have emerged as major powers in African football in recent years.
Morocco hosted the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and continues to increase its influence within continental football structures, while Senegal remain one of Africa’s strongest national teams following their recent international successes.
The release of the supporters is therefore being viewed not only as a legal or humanitarian matter, but also as a symbolic moment for relations between two influential Francophone nations.
