A Moroccan court has sentenced 19 football supporters to prison over violent incidents that occurred during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal, according to ESPN. The group, comprising 18 Senegalese nationals and one French citizen, was convicted on charges including destruction of sporting facilities and violence at a sporting event.
After a hearing that lasted more than five hours, the presiding judge handed down varying sentences: 11 defendants received one-year jail terms with fines of $550 each, four were sentenced to six months with $218 fines, and the remaining four were given three-month sentences and fined $130, according to defense lawyer Naima El Guellaf, who spoke to the Associated Press. Courtroom tensions ran high, with one defendant fainting after the verdict, several refusing to move to holding cells, and family members protesting what they described as excessive penalties. Defense attorneys have stated their intention to appeal.
The defendants were arrested following clashes after frustrated supporters attempted to storm the pitch to protest a late penalty awarded to Morocco, the host nation. Senegal ultimately won the final 1-0, but the unrest caused significant damage, estimated at over $476,000. The public prosecutor had sought maximum penalties, citing serious disruption to public order. Diplomats from Senegal and France, alongside relatives of the defendants, attended the hearing, while lawyers argued that evidence was insufficient to justify the convictions.
The match itself had already been marred by controversy after Senegalese players briefly left the field in protest of the stoppage-time penalty. Some fans responded by throwing objects and clashing with stewards before police intervened. In the aftermath, officials from both nations called for calm amid rising online tensions.
Last month, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) imposed $1 million in fines and sanctions on both Senegal and Morocco over the incidents. Moroccan authorities have indicated plans to appeal, describing the penalties as disproportionate, while senior officials from both countries have reiterated their commitment to maintaining long-standing diplomatic and economic ties despite the controversy.
