2025 AFCON: ‘We think about them’ – Idrissa Gueye calls for detained Senegal supporters to be freed

Everton midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye has made an emotional plea for the release of Senegalese supporters currently detained in Moroccan prisons following the fallout of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.

Speaking shortly after Everton’s 3-0 victory over Chelsea on Saturday, the veteran international used his platform to highlight the plight of his compatriots who remain in custody following the controversial tournament conclusion in Rabat.

“We think about our supporters who are still in prison in Morocco. Hopefully they will give our supporters back because we are behind them and we support them and we think about them.”

The detention of the 18 supporters stems from the chaotic scenes that unfolded during the final between Senegal and Morocco on January 18, 2026.

After a late, disputed penalty was awarded to the host nation, sections of the Senegalese crowd were involved in a pitch invasion and clashes with local security.

In February, a Moroccan court handed down sentences ranging from three months to one year for charges including hooliganism and violence against law enforcement.

Gueye’s call for clemency comes as a planned appeal trial for the fans was recently postponed to March 30, 2026.

The midfielder’s comments are part of a broader, tense standoff between the Senegalese football community and continental authorities.

Just days before the Chelsea match, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) officially stripped Senegal of the 2025 title, awarding it to Morocco after ruling that Senegal’s brief protest walk-off during the final constituted a forfeiture.

During Saturday’s match, Gueye and teammate Iliman Ndiaye pointedly celebrated by flashing two fingers to the cameras, a gesture symbolizing their belief that Senegal remains a two-time African champion regardless of the administrative ruling.

Gueye has emphasized that while the loss of the trophy is a sporting injustice, the human cost is his primary concern. He even suggested he would return his winner’s medal if it helped “ease tensions” and facilitate the fans’ return.

The Senegalese government continues to describe the sentences as “incomprehensibly harsh” while pursuing a legal challenge through the Court of Arbitration for Sport.