Senegal President Welcomes Pardon of Fans as Diplomatic Tensions with Morocco Persist
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye thanked Moroccan authorities for the humanitarian pardon while simultaneously reaffirming Senegal’s claim to the African Cup of Nations title, which is currently under legal challenge at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Eighteen Senegalese football supporters have been released from prison in Morocco and returned to Senegal following a royal pardon granted by King Mohammed VI. The decision, issued on humanitarian grounds to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, concludes a period of detention that began after violent incidents during the Africa Cup of Nations final in January. The Moroccan royal court cited the "age-old fraternal ties" between the two nations as a key factor in the clemency, seeking to stabilise relations that had been strained by the judicial proceedings.
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye welcomed the returning supporters at the airport outside Dakar on Sunday. Dressed in a tracksuit, Faye expressed gratitude to Moroccan authorities for the pardon but used the occasion to publicly reaffirm Senegal’s status as African champions. He hailed the national team as "two-time African champions" in front of journalists, a statement that underscores the ongoing diplomatic friction regarding the tournament outcome.
The title dispute remains active, with Senegal appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland after the Confederation of African Football awarded the championship to Morocco by administrative ruling in March. The original final, played in Rabat on January 18, ended in chaos after Senegal fans attempted to storm the pitch following a late penalty awarded to the hosts. The Senegalese team had initially left the field in protest, halting play for nearly 20 minutes, before returning to secure a 94th-minute winner.
The legal case against the supporters was built on stadium footage and medical certificates documenting injuries to law enforcement officers and stewards. Material damage from the unrest was estimated at more than 370,000 euros. In February, Moroccan courts sentenced the eighteen individuals to prison terms ranging from three months to one year for hooliganism and property damage. Three supporters had already been released in mid-April after completing their shortest sentences, leaving fifteen remaining until the royal pardon.
The incident has had broader regulatory consequences, with the Confederation of African Football imposing disciplinary sanctions on both the Senegalese and Moroccan national federations for unsporting conduct and violations of fair play principles in January. While Senegalese citizens form the largest foreign community in Morocco and the two countries maintain cooperation in tourism and energy, the judicial handling of the fans has highlighted the fragility of bilateral ties in the wake of sporting controversy.
