Senegal football fans arrive home after royal pardon following AFCON final violence in Morocco

A group of Senegalese football supporters jailed after the chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco earlier this year have returned home following a royal pardon issued by King Mohammed VI.

The pardon, granted on humanitarian grounds during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, led to the release of 15 fans who had remained in detention after the unrest that overshadowed the continental showpiece in January.

Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye personally received the supporters at the airport outside Dakar in the early hours of Sunday, describing their return as a moment of relief for the nation.

“We’re very happy to have them back on Senegalese soil,” he told reporters, while thanking Moroccan authorities for the decision. He also referred to Senegal as “two-time African champions,” a remark likely to reignite debate over the disputed outcome of the final, which remains under legal review.

The match, played in Rabat on January 18, descended into turmoil after a late penalty decision awarded to Morocco and a disallowed Senegal goal sparked outrage among visiting fans. Some supporters attempted to storm the pitch and threw objects, while the Senegal team briefly walked off in protest, halting play for nearly 20 minutes.

Senegal went on to score a dramatic 94th-minute winner after play resumed, but the result was later overturned on appeal, with Morocco awarded the title through administrative ruling. Senegal has since taken the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Following the final, Moroccan authorities arrested 18 Senegalese supporters, later sentencing them to prison terms ranging from three months to one year for hooliganism. Three were released in April after serving shorter sentences, while the remaining 15 were freed under the royal pardon.

The Moroccan royal court said the decision reflected “age-old fraternal ties” between the two countries and was intended to reinforce goodwill during the Eid celebrations.

The incident had strained relations between Senegal and Morocco, nations with long-standing diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties, and a large Senegalese community living in Morocco.

At the time, damages from the violence were estimated at more than €370,000, according to prosecutors. Both football federations were also sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football for breaches of fair play regulations.