A court in Rabat has upheld prison sentences for 18 Senegalese football supporters involved in disorder during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal.
The Rabat Court of Appeal confirmed sentences ranging from three months to one year. The fans had denied the charges.
In court, the supporters used Wolof interpreters. They said they ran onto the pitch at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium not to cause trouble, but because they were scared.
They told the court there was panic in the stands, with people crushed together and objects being thrown. They said going onto the pitch was the only way to get to safety.
Prosecutors disagreed. They said video footage clearly showed what happened and argued the offence was obvious. The court also refused a defence request to review more stadium video to identify who did what.
Those given three-month sentences are expected to be freed in the coming days, as they have already spent most of that time in custody since their arrest after the February 18 final.
The ruling closes the case at national level, but the wider dispute around the match is still ongoing.
The final between Morocco and Senegal continues to be disputed.
Senegal originally won the match 1–0 on the pitch. But football authorities later changed the result.
On 17 March 2026, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) gave Morocco a 3–0 win by default. It said Senegal broke competition rules after players briefly left the pitch following a controversial penalty decision.
The penalty was given late in the match after a disputed foul. Morocco’s Brahim Diaz missed the kick, but the decision led Senegal players to leave the field for a short time.
Earlier in the match, Senegal also had a goal ruled out, which had already raised tensions.
Officials in Morocco later said the stadium suffered about 4.87 million dirhams worth of damage, around 487,000 dollars, including broken seats and vandalism.
The Senegalese Football Federation has rejected the decision and taken the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.
It says Senegal’s players did return to the pitch and that taking the title away is too harsh, especially given concerns raised about refereeing decisions.
The Confederation of African Football Confederation of African Football says its ruling follows the rules and stands by the decision.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe visited Dakar earlier this month in an effort to calm tensions between the parties.
Morocco’s team has continued to celebrate the title. Captain Achraf Hakimi said the win feels deserved after a long wait, despite the dispute.
In Senegal, defender Kalidou Koulibaly said players first thought the decision to take away the title was a joke. The squad has also supported the jailed fans, with some players helping with legal costs.
