Nineteen football fans have appeared before a Moroccan court following chaotic scenes that marred the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal.
Moroccan media reports indicate that 18 Senegalese supporters and one Algerian fan were brought before the Rabat Court of First Instance over incidents that occurred during the high-stakes encounter.
The final, played at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, ended in disappointment for the hosts as Morocco fell 1-0 to Senegal after extra time.
Tensions flared in the closing moments of regulation time when the referee awarded a penalty to Morocco, a decision that sparked anger in the stands and led to clashes between Senegalese supporters and Moroccan security forces inside the stadium.
According to reports, the individuals are being tried for their alleged involvement in the riots that accompanied the final. The Rabat Court of First Instance has postponed the hearing until January 29, with the defendants attending the session under heavy security presence within the court premises.
During the proceedings, the defense team representing the Senegalese fans requested temporary release for their clients, proposing guarantees of fixed addresses and the surrender of passports to ensure their availability for future hearings.
The case has also attracted political attention, with Moroccan lawyer and politician Naïma El Klaf calling for the release of the accused. She cited the strong bilateral relations between Morocco and Senegal, as well as an anticipated meeting between officials of both countries scheduled for next week.
In a related development, the defense of the Algerian fan, who reportedly holds French citizenship, also sought his release. It was explained that he had travelled to Morocco solely to support his brother, a member of the technical staff of the Senegalese national team.
The seriousness of the incident was underlined by statements from the public prosecution. Hespress quoted the public prosecutor’s representative as saying, “Everyone witnessed firsthand what the accused committed, and if it weren’t for the wisdom of the Moroccan public, events with dire consequences would have occurred.”
The Senegalese fans face multiple charges, including contributing to acts of violence during a sports match, forcibly entering the field of play, damaging sports equipment, assaulting public security personnel, and deliberately throwing solid objects that caused harm.
The Algerian fan, meanwhile, has been charged with contributing to sports-related violence, damaging sports equipment, assaulting security officers, and deliberately throwing liquid substances that caused injury during the match.
The court session was attended by a member of the security staff at Moulay Abdellah Stadium who sustained injuries during the unrest that followed the AFCON final, further highlighting the gravity of the events that unfolded on the night.
