Ogona Anita
Senegal’s Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, has voiced strong displeasure over a Moroccan court’s decision to jail 18 Senegalese football supporters following crowd trouble at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in Rabat.
The supporters were arrested in Morocco after the January 18 final of the AFCON, where Senegal edged hosts Morocco 1-0 in a tense and chaotic encounter. Authorities accused the fans of violence against security personnel and damaging property after some attempted to invade the pitch and hurled objects during the match.
On Thursday, a Moroccan court sentenced the 18 supporters to prison terms ranging from three months to one year. They were also handed fines of up to 545 US dollars
Addressing parliament on Tuesday, Sonko expressed regret over how the matter had unfolded. “It seems this matter goes beyond the realm of sport, and that is regrettable,” he said.
“For two countries that call each other friends, like Morocco and Senegal, things should not have gone this far.”
The prime minister added that Morocco’s handling of the case “does not honour” the longstanding ties between the two countries. He insisted that Dakar had taken every appropriate diplomatic step to seek leniency for its citizens.
Sonko further revealed that Senegal could consider activating a bilateral agreement that allows for the mutual transfer of convicted persons, should efforts to resolve the issue through dialogue fail.
