Eighteen Senegalese football fans have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from three to 12 months after a Moroccan court on Thursday found them guilty of hooliganism during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat.
Nine of the supporters received one-year prison sentences and fines of 5,000 dirhams (approximately €464), six were sentenced to six months and fined 2,000 dirhams (€185), and three were given three months in prison with fines of 1,000 dirhams (€93).
The group had been held in pre-trial detention since their arrests on January 18 at Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah, where Morocco faced Senegal in the final.
The match erupted into chaos after referee Jean-Jacques Ngambo disallowed Ismaila Sarr’s goal for Senegal in second-half stoppage time due to a foul in the build-up, without consulting the video assistant referee. He then awarded a controversial penalty to Morocco following a collision between Senegal’s Malick Diouf and Moroccan striker Brahim Diaz.
Outraged, Senegalese fans began destroying stadium seats and clashed with police, prompting Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw to temporarily lead his players off the field.
During a 15-minute pause, veteran striker Sadio Mané urged his teammates to return before the penalty was taken, which Diaz failed to convert.
In extra time, Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal, securing Senegal’s second Africa Cup of Nations title since the tournament began in 1957.