The 2025 AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco spilled far beyond the Rabat pitch, reaching Dakar where a Moroccan café became the target of violence after a late penalty was awarded to Morocco.
As Senegalese fans tried to storm the field in the 98th minute, scenes of chaos also unfolded thousands of kilometers away in the Senegalese capital.
Videos shared online show Moroccan customers inside Café Vinizia, in Dakar’s busy Médina district, ducking behind tables and chairs as stones rained down on the premises.
Some fans could be heard urging others not to celebrate if Brahim Díaz scored, while others were praying he would miss to avoid provoking further anger. Another clip later revealed the scale of the damage: smashed windows, broken refrigerators, a destroyed chicken grill and ruined stock.
Vinizia, owned by Moroccan national Hamdi Mouaffak, had been hosting both Moroccan and Senegalese supporters together to watch the final on its two floors, with a grill downstairs and a billiard hall upstairs. According to a source quoted by Yabiladi, a group of youths began hurling stones at the café immediately after the penalty was given, then tried to force their way inside and reach the upper floor.
The owner called the police, who intervened while terrified customers hid inside. No injuries were reported, but several motorbikes parked outside were stolen, including three belonging to Moroccans and two to Senegalese clients. Moroccan and Senegalese patrons inside the café also stepped in, going out to speak to the attackers in an effort to calm the situation before officers arrived.
The Moroccan embassy in Dakar later described the incident as “isolated” and confirmed that Vinizia has since reopened, with repairs underway.
In a post on X, the embassy shared photos of Ambassador Hassan Naciri visiting the owner, stressing that “brotherhood, respect and living together must always prevail.”
Hier, après le penalty sifflé pour Diaz, des étudiants marocains à Dakar priaient Dieu pour que le penalty soit raté, car sinon, c’était la mort qui les attendait, avec des centaines de Sénégalais en train de leur jeter des pierres et qui les attendaient dehors. pic.twitter.com/WofZOsMdRx
— Mjinina (@Ayoubspp) January 19, 2026
Le restaurant et salle de billard “VENISIA” à Dakar 🇸🇳, appartenant à un marocain, a été saccagé suite à la finale de la CAN 2025 entre le Sénégal et le Maroc. pic.twitter.com/4ATsUKM77G
— atlasinfo (@atlasinfo) January 19, 2026
