The trial of supporters arrested after disorder at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final has been delayed once again, with Moroccan courts postponing proceedings involving 18 defendants until 12 February.
Moroccan judicial authorities confirmed that the hearing, initially scheduled for Thursday, 5 February, will not take place as planned.
The case concerns 18 individuals detained following incidents that broke out after the conclusion of the Africa Cup of Nations final, which saw Senegalese supporters at the centre of the disturbances.
The postponement is the latest disruption linked to an ongoing strike by Moroccan lawyers, which has affected the normal operation of courts across the country.
As a result, a number of hearings have been adjourned, including this high-profile case connected to Africa’s flagship football tournament.
Seventeen of those facing prosecution are Senegalese nationals, alongside one Algerian citizen. All are accused of common law offences stemming from events that followed the final match of the competition.
According to judicial sources, the charges include acts of violence against law enforcement officers as well as vandalism.
Under Moroccan law, such offences carry the possibility of custodial sentences if convictions are secured. The accused have remained at the centre of attention in Senegal, where the case has been closely followed by the public and local media since their arrest.
The incidents occurred in the aftermath of the Africa Cup of Nations final, a moment usually associated with celebration but which instead ended in disorder.
Moroccan authorities moved swiftly to detain those suspected of involvement, opening a legal process that has since been marked by delays.
This is not the first time the hearing has been rescheduled, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the outcome for the defendants and their families.
The continued strike action by legal professionals has created a backlog of cases, with courts operating at reduced capacity.
With the new date set for 12 February, attention now turns to whether proceedings will finally begin as planned.
Until then, the fate of the accused remains unresolved, as the legal process continues to be shaped by wider challenges facing Morocco’s justice system.
The case highlights the legal consequences that can follow football-related disorder at major international tournaments, as well as the broader impact of institutional disruptions on the administration of justice.
