The Senegal Football Federation (FSF) has strongly criticised the prison sentences and fines handed down by a Moroccan court to 18 Senegalese supporters arrested after the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The court sentenced the fans to jail terms ranging from three months to one year, alongside financial penalties, after disturbances that followed the AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco on 18 January 2026. Some reports also indicate that a 19th individual, a French national, was convicted in the same case.
According to the verdict, the supporters were found guilty of offences linked to crowd violence, property damage and clashes with security personnel around the stadium. The heaviest sentences included one year in prison and fines of up to 5,000 Moroccan dirhams.
In a statement, the FSF described the rulings as “excessively harsh and disproportionate,” arguing that similar incidents elsewhere are often met with less severe punishment. The federation said the decision has caused widespread outrage among football stakeholders and Senegalese fans.
Lawyers representing the convicted supporters have reportedly signalled their intention to appeal the judgment, insisting the penalties do not reflect international standards for handling football-related disorder.
The controversy adds to the fallout from a tense AFCON final that was marred by crowd trouble and officiating disputes. While the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has separately imposed fines and disciplinary measures on both national federations, those sanctions are independent of the criminal sentences issued by the Moroccan courts.
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